Correlation of the Epiphyseal Closure and Ossification of the Ulnar Sesamoid Bone of the Metacarpophalangeal Joint of the Thumb

<p>The purpose of this investigation was to determine if there is a correlation between the times of closure of the epiphyses of the hand and the time of ossification of the ulnar sesamoid of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb.</p> <p>The time for these events was studied in twenty-three males and fourteen females for which appropriate hand radiographs were available. Radiographs were made every three months and epiphyseal closure was studied in these beginning with the one in which the sesamoid first appeared. The maximum time for study after sesamoid closure was twenty-four months.</p> <p>Only one subject showed complete closure of the epiphyses of the hand during study. Most subjects were only approaching 40-50 percent closure. No really dependable sequence of epiphyseal closure appeared but there were two epiphyses (proximal phalanx of fourth and fifth digit) which closed earliest in a large percentage of the patients. On the basis of the number of subjects followed and the time they were followed it is difficult to make any predictions dependent on which particular epiphyses are closed.</p> <p>Graphs were made of the average number of epiphyses closed as a function of time post sesamoid appearance. These showed that there is a general trend for rapid increase in closure starting about fifteen months post sesamoid appearance. The limited number of subjects suggests that the individual behavior is so variable as to make prediction unreliable within the time interval covered by the study.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Year

1970

Author dc:creator

• Lentz, Hilbert

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ronald D. Walters
• Alden B. Chase
• Lee E. Olsen
• Walter L. Stilson
• Richard L. Thompkins

• Orthodontics and Orthodontology
• Epiphyses; Osteogenesis Growth

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/1325

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-2106