What is a hamate bone?
The hamate bone is one of eight carpal bones that forms part of the wrist joint. The word hamate is derived from the Latin word hamulus which means “a little hook”. It is a wedge-shaped bone with a hook-like process that can be found in the medial side of the wrist.
Can you break your hamate bone?
Hamate fractures are unfrequent injuries, accounting for 2 to 4% of carpal fractures. [6][7][8][9] Distal carpal row fractures are less common than first row fractures. Hamate fractures (hook and body) tend to occur in young, active patients. They are unusual in children.
How do you treat hamate bone?
Acute hook of the hamate fractures are treated with cast immobilization for 6 to 8 weeks or excision. Delayed healing or nonunion of hook fractures can be treated with excision. Complications of hook fracture/nonunion include flexor tendon synovitis and/or rupture and ulnar nerve irritation and pain.
How do baseball players break their hamate bone?
The hamate bone is one of eight carpal bones in the wrist, and is located on the outside of the pinky finger. A fracture to the bone frequently occurs in baseball and golf or in racquet sports due to the way the bat (club or racquet handle) makes contact and exerts pressure on the bone.
How long does a hamate fracture take to heal?
Typically, if treated conservatively, simple fractures of the hamate are unified within 6-8 weeks of injury. Patient participation in full-contact sports, such as football, usually requires bracing or protection for the wrist until full musculature and flexibility have returned.
What is hamate surgery?
The typical surgical procedure for Hook of Hamate fractures and nonunions involves removing the fractured or non-united “hook”. Although rarely, standard fracture fixation with screws may be performed to fix the fracture.
How do I know if my hamate is broken?
What are the Symptoms of a Hamate Fracture?
- Sudden onset pain and swelling.
- Bruising.
- A sensation of “pins and needles” radiating up into the ring and pinky fingers if the has been nerve involvement in the injury.
- Loss of range of motion/stiffness.
- Muscle spasms.
- Weakness of grip.
How long does a hamate bone take to heal?
Can a hook of hamate fracture heal on its own?
Hamate hook fractures can be treated conservatively through splinting or immobilization, but surgery is often required. Because of the bone’s proximity to the ulnar nerve, the broken bone fragment can easily become displaced and create numbness or tingling to the small and ring fingers.
Can you play baseball with a broken hamate?
Parker et al. presented a series of five patients with hook of hamate fractures. Four patients were professional baseball players. The players that were diagnosed with the fracture during the season and underwent surgical excision of the fragment were able to return to play within 6 weeks [23].
How do you know if you broke your hamate?
The most common symptom of a fracture of the hook of the hamate is pain. Swelling, bruising, and weakness of grip are also common. The pain may be vague and difficult to reproduce, but should be found when an examiner presses directly on the hook of the hamate bone.
How long does it take to recover from hamate bone surgery?
Return to Play and Full Recovery The median return to play time after surgery was 6 weeks (range 1 – 36 weeks).
What does hook of hamate fracture feel like?
Symptoms of a hook of the hamate fracture may include: Sudden onset pain and swelling. Bruising. A sensation of “pins and needles” radiating up into the ring and pinky fingers if the has been nerve involvement in the injury.
How long is recovery from hook of hamate surgery?
The median time to return to play was 6 weeks (range 1 – 36 weeks) after surgery; 11 patients (14%) had a return at 12 weeks or longer.
Can you play baseball with a broken hamate bone?
Athletes are usually able to return back to sports completely in approximately 6 to 8 weeks. Return to play after a hook of the hamate fracture may require protective padding or splinting until all tenderness has resolved and full range of motion has returned.
What do you do for a hook of hamate fracture?
The most common treatment, especially for an athlete, is to surgically remove the broken hook of the hamate. 2 The reliability of recovery from this surgery is very good. Athletes typically take 6-8 weeks to recover from this surgery and return to sports.