MRI OF BILATERAL BIPARTITE HAMULUS - A CASE-REPORT

Normal skeletal variants are a common occurrence in clinical practice and may lead to misinterpretation. As part of a case control study inv estigating the carpal tunnel, our asymptomatic and voluntary participa nt underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of both wrists from the m etacarpal bases to the distal radiocarpal joint. The imaging technique s included spin echo (SE), turbo spin echo (TSE) and fast field echo ( FFE) sequences using 4 mm-slice thickness. As an incidental finding bi partite hamulus was detected bilaterally. The anomaly was evident in b oth hamuli with similar MRI characteristics. The congenital origin was further supported by the absence of trauma or surgery to the wrists. In this case report the authors discuss the anatomical variant, bilate ral bipartite hook of the hamate, and demonstrate the reliability of c ontiguous slices of MR axial slices in displaying an anatomical varian t of the carpus. This normal variant of the hamate is not commonly enc ountered in MR imaging of the wrist and can be misinterpreted as fract ure or post-traumatic sequelae. Images of the normal hamulus are prese nted for comparison.