The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence and distribution patterns of sesamoid bones at the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and interphalangeal (IP) joints and to determine if there is an association between the distribution patterns and age, gender, and hand side. Patients who had a direct radiograph of the hand obtained between 2019-2020 were retrospectively evaluated. All radiographs were evaluated in terms of the prevalence, coincidence, and distribution patterns of sesamoid bones. Presence of an association between distribution patterns and age, sex and side was also assessed. A total of 1501 hand radiographs were included into the study. There were 12 different patterns of sesamoid bone distribution. The most common distribution pattern was the presence of sesamoid bone at the first MCP joint only (25.8 %). There was a positive correlation between the second and third MCP, second and fifth MCP, second and first IP, third and fourth MCP and fifth MCP and first IP joints. The pattern with a sesamoid bone at the first MCP joint only was more prevalent among males, whereas the pattern involving coincidence of sesamoid bones at the first, second, fifth MCP and first IP joints was more prevalent among females (p<0.001, p=0.031). A positive correlation was observed between age and the number of MCP joints with sesamoid bones (p<0.001). The number of MCP joints with sesamoid bones was found to be higher in females (p<0.001).This study is important in that it provided anatomical data that can be guiding for clinicians in terms of diagnosis and management of hand disorders.
KEY WORDS: Coincidence; Distribution pattern; Hand; Metacarpophalangeal joint; Sesamoid bones.
YILDIZ, G.; GURSOY, M.; BULUT, T.; METE, B. D. & COBAN, I. Prevalence, coincidence and distribution patterns of sesamoid bones of the hand. Int. J. Morphol., 39(5):1399-1405, 2021.
