Distribution and Pattern of Sesamoid Bones of the Hand in Saudi Arabia- a Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Injuries or inflammation of the sesamoid bones can be very painful. In order to properly diagnose and treat problems affecting the hand, it is necessary to have a thorough grasp of the number and location of sesamoid bones in the hand. This study was carried out with an objective to study the distribution and pattern of sesamoid bones of the hand in the Saudi population. Materials and Methods: This three-month retrospective study was conducted from May 2023 to July 2023 in orthopedics and radiology departments of Saudi Arabia's Medical Centre, Majmaah University. The study analyzed 200 patients who had sesamoid bones in their hand by radiographs. Patients underwent two radiological examinations. All patients had posteroanterior (PA) and oblique direct hand radiographs. The radiologists and orthopedic surgeons examined the hand sesamoid bones, including at the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and interphalangeal (IP) joints. Radiologists analyzed X-rays of hand injury patients using demographic data and imaging tests. The patients' sesamoid bone distributions and locations were meticulously recorded. Data were analyzed in SPSS Version 23, and the Chi-square test was applied to test the statistical significance. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Total 200 patients had sesamoid bones examined in their first radiological examination of MCP. Among them, 72 (36%) patients had , , and MCP followed by MCP in 58 (29%), and MCP in 45 (22.5%), and MCP in 43 (21.5%) with the average age of sesamoid bone at MCP joint as 47.71±17.09, 41.76±18.08, 48.16±15.76, and 42±14.77 respectively. Sesamoid bone was reported , , and MCP in 1 (0.5%) and , , , and MCP in 1 (0.5%) patients in the first radiological examination. The second radiological examination in the same patients showed, 64 (32%) patients had , , and MCP followed by MCP in 47 (23.5%), and MCP in 43 (21.5%), and MCP in 17 (8.5%) with the average age of 48.38±17.13, 41.09±16.72, 49.02±16.59, and 38.24±14.59 respectively at MCP joint. The association between the first radiological examination and the second radiological examination of sesamoid bone at MCP was statistically significant (chi-square 623.73, p value <0.001). Conclusion: This is the first radiological assessment with two imaging evaluations in the same 200 patients who had sesamoid bone in hand. In the first and second imaging evaluations, we recorded 7 and 9 sesamoid bone distribution patterns respectively. , , and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) sesamoid bones pattern was seen in patients. Trauma victims rarely have hand sesamoid bones, which are typically misdiagnosed when they appear elsewhere. This study provides orthopedic surgeons with anatomical data to help diagnose and treat patients.