Prevalence and features of metacarpal pseudoepiphysis in Hong Kong Chinese children

Journal of Orthopaedics, Trauma and Rehabilitation · Published 2025-05-29 · DOI 10.1177/22104917251344633

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Abstract

Background Metacarpal (MC) epiphyses are normally found proximally for the first and distally for the second to fifth metacarpal bones. Pseudoepiphyses are infrequently found at the non-epiphyseal ends of metacarpal bones during the normal pediatric growth process. This is the first study aiming to investigate the radiological prevalence and features of metacarpal pseudoepiphyses in the Hong Kong Chinese population. Methods Standard bone age radiographs of children (chronological age 5 to 10) taken in two regional hospitals from Jan 2016 to Dec 2020 were analyzed. Exclusion criteria include: advanced bone age older than 11 years old, non-Chinese ethnic origin, history of hand trauma and skeletal dysplasia. Partial pseudoepiphyses can involve either or both the radial or ulnar cortices with no continuation in between. Complete pseudoepiphyses are those that extended across the full width of the metacarpal bone. The prevalence of metacarpal pseudoepiphysis was documented. The effect of Gender and Age differences on the prevalence of pseudoepiphysis was analyzed with chi-squared test using SPSS 26. Results A total of 421 radiographs (94 males; 327 females) were reviewed. The prevalence of pseudoepiphysis of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th metacarpal bones was 25.7%, 21.1%, 0%, 0% and 23.5%, respectively. Complete pseudoepiphysis was most commonly seen in the 1st metacarpal bone (3.3%). Occurrence of pseudoepiphysis in single bone (36.1%) is more common than occurrence in multiple bones (15.4%). Combined 2nd and 5th metacarpal pseudoepiphysis is the most common pattern (38.5%). Gender (1st MC p  = 0.19; 2nd MC p  = 0.592; 5th MC p  = 0.159) and Age (1st MC p  = 0.103; 2nd MC p  = 0.093; 5th MC p  = 0.211) showed no differences on the prevalence of pseudoepiphysis. Conclusion There is a high prevalence of metacarpal pseudoepiphysis in the Hong Kong Chinese population. Understanding the radiological prevalence and features of metacarpal pseudoepiphyses is important to avoid misinterpretation as fractures in pediatric patients.

Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).

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Year
2025

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