Hamate Body Fracture
Kenrick C. Lam
Andrew Coskey
Niki L. Carayannopoulos
INTRODUCTION
Pathoanatomy
Hamate is a triangular prism-shaped bone in the coronal plane with a large anterior-sided process, the hook of the hamate.
Articulates with and bordered by the 4th and 5th metacarpals, pisiform, triquetrum, lunate, and capitate
Blood supply
Dorsal intercarpal arch—dorsally
Branches of the deep palmar arch via retrograde flow—volarly
Ligaments
Interosseous, dorsal and volar capitohamate ligament
Volar and dorsal triquetrohamate ligament
Hook of hamate pisiform ligament
Three hamatometacarpal ligaments dorsally to the 4th and 5th metacarpals
One hamatometacarpal ligament volarly to the 5th metacarpal
Extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) acts as deforming force in fracture or dislocation.
Mechanism of injury
Direct axial load—closed fist punch
Blunt force through metacarpal with wrist extended—motorcycle or automobile accident
Direct trauma to the hamate
Sagittal split fracture12
Fall on outstretched hand
Coronal body (ulnar deviated) or sagittal split (radial deviated) fracture15
Transverse fracture
Epidemiology
Associated injury with hamate body fracture: