Frequency and Characteristics of Metacarpal Pseudoepiphyses in Healthy Children Aged 5-15 Years

Abstract

Pseudoepiphyses are notches and clefts located at the non-epiphyseal ends of the metacarpal bones. There are very few studies regarding the frequency of pseudoepiphysis. Subjects between the ages of 5 and 15, whose hand radiographs were obtained between 2015 and 2021 in our Radiology Department, were included in this study. A total of 1071 patients were included in the study. A single radiologist evaluated these radiographs in 3 different time periods. Pseudoepiphyses that involve one cortex of the metacarpal bone are considered as partial pseudoepiphyses, whereas those that involve both cortices are considered as complete pseudoepiphyses. Of the 1071 patients included in the study, 65.9% (n = 706) were girls. The mean age was 9.5 ± 2.6 years. Pseudoepiphysis was detected in 222 (20.7%) cases. Pseudoepiphysis was more common in boys (27.4%) than girls (17.3%) (P < .001). The frequency of partial pseudoepiphysis was found to be significantly higher than that of complete pseudoepiphysis [n = 212 (19.8%) and n = 20 (1.9%), respectively, P < .001]. Partial pseudoepiphysis was most frequently detected in the second metacarpal bone, and complete pseudoepiphysis was most frequently detected in the first metacarpal bone. Of 222 cases with pseudoepiphysis, 76.6% (n = 170) had in 1 location, while 21.2% (n = 47) had in 2 locations, 1.8% (n = 4) in 3 locations, and 0.5% (n = 1) in 4 locations. Pseudoepiphysis is a normal variant of metacarpal ossification; it does not adversely affect the development of the bone and is frequently seen in healthy children.