A ROENTGENOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE APPEARANCE ON THE HOOK OF THE HAMATE

유구골구의 출현에 관한 방사선학적 연구

The author investigated the timing of land and wrist ossification events taking place in the hamate and pisiform by means of roentgenographic examination and its relation to the peak growth velocities in body height. Materials obtained included 493 sheets of X-ray films taken from 257 boys ana 236 girls aged between 7 and 17 years lived in Seoul area. The results indicate that; 1) The average ages at occurrence of initial ossification of the hook of the hamate were 12 years 3 months in boys and 10 years 1 month in girls. 2) The average ages at which advanced ossification of the hook of the hamate occurred were 13 years 7 months in boys and 11 years 11 months in girls. 3) Initial ossification of the pisiform appeared at 13 years 0 month in boys and 10 years 2 months in girls. 4) All three ossification events in hand and wrist, and peak growth velocity in body height occurred earlier in girls than in boys. 5) Initial ossification in the hook of the hamate and pisiform preceded or coincided with peak growth in body height in most boys and girls, on the other hand, advanced ossification in the hook of the hamate occurred around peak growth in body height but in girls did it after peak growth in body height. 6) It would appear that initial ossification in the hook of the hamate or in the pisiform, both for boys and girls, provides a better indication of approaching peak adolescent growth in body height. 7) Advanced ossification in the hook of the tamale would indicate that the period of cercumpuberal peak growth had teen entered or finished.