Skip Navigation
Skip to contents

J Musculoskelet Trauma : Journal of Musculoskeletal Trauma

OPEN ACCESS

Articles

Page Path
HOME > J Musculoskelet Trauma > Volume 29(1); 2016 > Article
Original Article
Clinical Results of Excision of Hamate Hook in the Baseball Players with Hamate Hook Nonunion
Seoung-Joon Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Jong-Soo Lee, M.D.
Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2016;29(1):12-18.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2016.29.1.12
Published online: January 19, 2016

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Seoung-Joon Lee, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Konkuk University Medical Center, 120-1 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05030, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2030-7616, Fax: 82-2-2030-7369, lsjmd@naver.com
• Received: July 3, 2015   • Revised: July 26, 2015   • Accepted: October 30, 2015

Copyright © 2016 The Korean Fracture Society. All rights reserved.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

  • 2,096 Views
  • 0 Download
  • 1 Crossref
prev next
  • Purpose
    The purpose of this study is to report the clinical results of excision of the hamate hook in baseball players with hamate hook nonunion.
  • Materials and Methods
    This study included 10 baseball players treated with excision of the hamate hook. Among 10 players, there were 3 professional players and 7 amateur players. The clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, exercise performance score, and grip power. We also checked complications and time to return to the game.
  • Results
    At final follow-up, the average VAS score was 0.4 points and the average performance score was 9.0 points. The grip power was recovered to 96.7% of the opposite hand at final follow-up. Significant improvement in pain and grip power was observed after surgery. The average time to return to the game was 11.8 weeks. There was one case of postoperative ulnar nerve neuropathy, which was completely resolved within 12 weeks after surgery.
  • Conclusion
    We think that excision of the hamate hook is an effective treatment to enable early return to the game without loss of grip strength in the baseball player with nonunion of the hamate hook.
  • 1. Boulas HJ, Milek MA. Hook of the hamate fractures. Diagnosis, treatment, and complications. Orthop Rev, 1990;19:518-529.
  • 2. O'Shea K, Weiland AJ. Fractures of the hamate and pisiform bones. Hand Clin, 2012;28:287-300.Article
  • 3. Bishop AT, Beckenbaugh RD. Fracture of the hamate hook. J Hand Surg Am, 1988;13:135-139.
  • 4. Demirkan F, Calandruccio JH, Diangelo D. Biomechanical evaluation of flexor tendon function after hamate hook excision. J Hand Surg Am, 2003;28:138-143.
  • 5. Watson HK, Rogers WD. Nonunion of the hook of the hamate: an argument for bone grafting the nonunion. J Hand Surg Am, 1989;14:486-490.
  • 6. Nanno M, Sawaizumi T, Ito H. Simplified dorsal approach to fracture of the hamate hook with percutaneous fixation with screws. J Plast Surg Hand Surg, 2010;44:214-218.
  • 7. Carter PR, Eaton RG, Littler JW. Ununited fracture of the hook of the hamate. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1977;59:583-588.
  • 8. Futami T, Aoki H, Tsukamoto Y. Fractures of the hook of the hamate in athletes. 8 cases followed for 6 years. Acta Orthop Scand, 1993;64:469-471.
  • 9. Stark HH, Jobe FW, Boyes JH, Ashworth CR. Fracture of the hook of the hamate in athletes. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1977;59:575-582.
  • 10. Wright TW, Moser MW, Sahajpal DT. Hook of hamate pull test. J Hand Surg Am, 2010;35:1887-1889.
  • 11. Stark HH, Chao EK, Zemel NP, Rickard TA, Ashworth CR. Fracture of the hook of the hamate. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1989;71:1202-1207.
  • 12. Devers BN, Douglas KC, Naik RD, Lee DH, Watson JT, Weikert DR. Outcomes of hook of hamate fracture excision in high-level amateur athletes. J Hand Surg Am, 2013;38:72-76.
  • 13. Rettig AC. Athletic injuries of the wrist and hand. Part I: traumatic injuries of the wrist. Am J Sports Med, 2003;31:1038-1048.
  • 14. Walsh JJ 4th, Bishop AT. Diagnosis and management of hamate hook fractures. Hand Clin, 2000;397-403. viii.
  • 15. Parker RD, Berkowitz MS, Brahms MA, Bohl WR. Hook of the hamate fractures in athletes. Am J Sports Med, 1986;14:517-523.
  • 16. Andresen R, Radmer S, Sparmann M, Bogusch G, Banzer D. Imaging of hamate bone fractures in conventional X-rays and high-resolution computed tomography. An in vitro study. Invest Radiol, 1999;34:46-50.
  • 17. Marchessault J, Conti M, Baratz ME. Carpal fractures in athletes excluding the scaphoid. Hand Clin, 2009;25:371-388.
  • 18. Scheufler O, Andresen R, Radmer S, Erdmann D, Exner K, Germann G. Hook of hamate fractures: critical evaluation of different therapeutic procedures. Plast Reconstr Surg, 2005;115:488-497.
  • 19. Smith P 3rd, Wright TW, Wallace PF, Dell PC. Excision of the hook of the hamate: a retrospective survey and review of the literature. J Hand Surg Am, 1988;13:612-615.
  • 20. Tolat AR, Humphrey JA, McGovern PD, Compson J. Surgical excision of ununited hook of hamate fractures via the carpal tunnel approach. Injury, 2014;45:1554-1556.
Fig. 1

(A) Classification of hamate hook fractures. Number in parenthesis indicates number of patients. (B) Computed tomography-axial view shows nonunion of a hamate hook fracture (arrow).

jkfs-29-12-g001.jpg
Fig. 2

(A) A curved skin incision was made on the hypothenar eminence (asterisk: hamate hook). (B) After careful retraction of the superficial branch of the ulnar nerve (dashed arrow) ulnarly, the hamate hook (asterisk) and the deep branch of the ulnar nerve (arrow) can be found. (C) The hamate hook was removed carefully.

jkfs-29-12-g002.jpg
Fig. 3

The grip power was recovered to 96.7% of the opposite hand at the final follow-up. POD: Postoperative day.

jkfs-29-12-g003.jpg
Fig. 4

Location of the hamate hook relative to a bat end in the nondominant right hand of a left-handed hitter. H: Hamate hook, P: Pisform.

jkfs-29-12-g004.jpg
Table 1

Patients' Data

jkfs-29-12-i001.jpg
Patient No. Age (yr) Injured hand P/A Time to diagnosis (mo) Tingling of little finger
1 17 Nondominant A 10 -
2 18 Nondominant A 6 -
3 18 Nondominant A 8 -
4 20 Nondominant A 4 -
5 22 Nondominant P 6 -
6 25 Nondominant P 4 -
7 21 Nondominant P 6 -
8 18 Nondominant A 10 +
9 18 Nondominant A 12 -
10 19 Nondominant A 6 -

P: Professional, A: Amateur.

Table 2

Clinical Outcomes after Excision the of Hamate Hook

jkfs-29-12-i002.jpg
VAS score Performance score Return to game (wk) Grip power (lb) POD-UN
Preop Final Preop Final Opposite Preop Final
Patient No.
1 7 0 4 9 10 70 50 75
2 6 1 3 8 12 110 70 110
3 8 0 2 10 16 90 20 90 +
4 6 0 4 9 12 105 95 95
5 5 0 5 9 10 100 80 90
6 7 1 3 9 8 110 80 100
7 8 2 2 10 10 90 60 90
8 10 0 1 10 12 110 70 100
9 6 1 2 9 16 100 90 105
10 9 0 4 10 12 100 70 90
Mean±standard deviation 7.1±1.4 0.4±0.6 3.0±1.1 9.0±0.7 12±2.6 96.9±12.3 66.9±22.4 93.6±9.4
p-value <0.05 <0.05 <0.05

VAS: Visual analog scale, POD-UN: Postoperative day ulnar neuropathy, Preop: Preoperative.

Figure & Data

REFERENCES

    Citations

    Citations to this article as recorded by  
    • Isolated hook of hamate fracture in sports that require a strong grip comprehensive literature review
      Heejae Kim, Bumsun Kwon, Jihyun Kim, Kiyeun Nam
      Medicine.2018; 97(46): e13275.     CrossRef

    • Cite
      CITE
      export Copy Download
      Close
      Download Citation
      Download a citation file in RIS format that can be imported by all major citation management software, including EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and Reference Manager.

      Format:
      • RIS — For EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and most other reference management software
      • BibTeX — For JabRef, BibDesk, and other BibTeX-specific software
      Include:
      • Citation for the content below
      Clinical Results of Excision of Hamate Hook in the Baseball Players with Hamate Hook Nonunion
      J Korean Fract Soc. 2016;29(1):12-18.   Published online January 31, 2016
      Close
    • XML DownloadXML Download
    Figure
    • 0
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    We recommend
    Clinical Results of Excision of Hamate Hook in the Baseball Players with Hamate Hook Nonunion
    Image Image Image Image
    Fig. 1 (A) Classification of hamate hook fractures. Number in parenthesis indicates number of patients. (B) Computed tomography-axial view shows nonunion of a hamate hook fracture (arrow).
    Fig. 2 (A) A curved skin incision was made on the hypothenar eminence (asterisk: hamate hook). (B) After careful retraction of the superficial branch of the ulnar nerve (dashed arrow) ulnarly, the hamate hook (asterisk) and the deep branch of the ulnar nerve (arrow) can be found. (C) The hamate hook was removed carefully.
    Fig. 3 The grip power was recovered to 96.7% of the opposite hand at the final follow-up. POD: Postoperative day.
    Fig. 4 Location of the hamate hook relative to a bat end in the nondominant right hand of a left-handed hitter. H: Hamate hook, P: Pisform.
    Clinical Results of Excision of Hamate Hook in the Baseball Players with Hamate Hook Nonunion

    Patients' Data

    Patient No. Age (yr) Injured hand P/A Time to diagnosis (mo) Tingling of little finger
    1 17 Nondominant A 10 -
    2 18 Nondominant A 6 -
    3 18 Nondominant A 8 -
    4 20 Nondominant A 4 -
    5 22 Nondominant P 6 -
    6 25 Nondominant P 4 -
    7 21 Nondominant P 6 -
    8 18 Nondominant A 10 +
    9 18 Nondominant A 12 -
    10 19 Nondominant A 6 -

    P: Professional, A: Amateur.

    Clinical Outcomes after Excision the of Hamate Hook

    VAS score Performance score Return to game (wk) Grip power (lb) POD-UN
    Preop Final Preop Final Opposite Preop Final
    Patient No.
    1 7 0 4 9 10 70 50 75
    2 6 1 3 8 12 110 70 110
    3 8 0 2 10 16 90 20 90 +
    4 6 0 4 9 12 105 95 95
    5 5 0 5 9 10 100 80 90
    6 7 1 3 9 8 110 80 100
    7 8 2 2 10 10 90 60 90
    8 10 0 1 10 12 110 70 100
    9 6 1 2 9 16 100 90 105
    10 9 0 4 10 12 100 70 90
    Mean±standard deviation 7.1±1.4 0.4±0.6 3.0±1.1 9.0±0.7 12±2.6 96.9±12.3 66.9±22.4 93.6±9.4
    p-value <0.05 <0.05 <0.05

    VAS: Visual analog scale, POD-UN: Postoperative day ulnar neuropathy, Preop: Preoperative.

    Table 1 Patients' Data

    P: Professional, A: Amateur.

    Table 2 Clinical Outcomes after Excision the of Hamate Hook

    VAS: Visual analog scale, POD-UN: Postoperative day ulnar neuropathy, Preop: Preoperative.


    J Musculoskelet Trauma : Journal of Musculoskeletal Trauma
    Close layer
    TOP