The hamate is the medial distal carpal bone with a prominent hook-shaped process (the hamulus) that forms the medial wall of the carpal tunnel and the floor of Guyon's canal. The hook is a common fracture site in racquet sport athletes.
| Articulations |
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|---|---|
| Landmarks |
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| Ossification | Endochondral ossification from a single centre appearing at age 1, with the hook ossifying from a separate centre. |
The hamate hook projects into the palm and forms the ulnar wall of the carpal tunnel and the medial wall of Guyon canal. Hook of hamate fractures from direct impact with a sports implement (golf club, tennis racket, baseball bat) are frequently missed on plain radiographs and require CT for diagnosis. The hook fracture can compress the ulnar nerve in Guyon canal and damage the deep or superficial branch, producing hypothenar muscle weakness or little ring finger numbness.
Common in golfers, baseball players, and racquet sport players from a blow by the handle; it causes hypothenar pain and may irritate the ulnar nerve or fray the flexor tendons.
Punching injuries can fracture the dorsal hamate and dislocate the bases of the ring and little finger metacarpals.
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