Hamato-lunate impingement: an uncommon cause of ulnar-sided wrist pain

Abstract

It has been reported that almost 50% of lunates have a separate medial facet on the distal surface for articulation with the hamate; about a quarter of these have erosion of the cartilage with exposed subchondral bone on the proximal pole of the hamate. We describe 4 cases of ulnar-sided wrist pain caused by hamato-lunate impingement that resulted in chondromalacia. The pain could be reproduced by a modification of the Lichtman test. The diagnosis was confirmed by arthroscopy. All 4 patients responded favorably to resection of the head of the hamate.