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Accessory carpal bones - Scoping review with meta-analysis: Accessory bones around the scaphoid
Vojtech Kunc1, Matouš Kroupa2, Michal Beneš3
1Department of Anatomy, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; Center of Endoscopic, Surgical and Clinical Anatomy (CESKA), Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; Clinic of Trauma Surgery, Masaryk Hospital, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic; 1st Department of Orthopaedics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
Accessory carpal bones are rare wrist variants. This review clarifies their low prevalence, varied imaging features, and occasional clinical significance, highlighting the need for standardized definitions.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Radiology
- Anatomy
Background:
- Accessory carpal bones near the scaphoid are uncommon anatomical variants.
- They can mimic fractures or other pathologies on wrist imaging.
- Existing literature suffers from inconsistent terminology and definitions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize evidence on accessory bones around the scaphoid.
- To clarify their prevalence, anatomy, imaging, and clinical presentation.
- To address limitations in current literature.
Main Methods:
- Combined systematic review, prevalence meta-analysis, and scoping review.
- Searched major databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar).
- Included 11 prevalence studies and 60 case reports.
Main Results:
- Pooled prevalence for individual accessory bones is generally below 0.1%.
- Reported variants include os centrale carpi, os scaphoideum bipartitum, and others.
- These variants are usually incidental but can cause pain or diagnostic confusion.
Conclusions:
- Accessory bones around the scaphoid are rare and poorly characterized.
- Standardized anatomical definitions and diagnostic criteria are needed.
- Improved research requires consistent terminology and imaging criteria.
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