Fracture of the hook of the hamate, often misdiagnosed as "wrist sprain"

A patient with fracture of the hook of the hamate Is described, in whom the diagnosis was delayed for 1 year after the initial trauma. This delay in c orrect diagnosis is often seen, as routine anteroposterior and lateral roen tgenograms of the wrist are unlikely to show the fracture. The trauma is of ten misinterpreted as a "wrist sprain." Nevertheless, with a careful trauma history and a detailed clinical examination and with minimal additional ro entgenographic views, it should be possible to correctly diagnose the fract ure, Relief of the disabling pain can then be offered by removal of the un- united fracture fragment. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc.