DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2021.v09i06.016

Pages: 904-908

The sesamoid bones of the forefoot are typically found within the plantar plates of the interphalangeal (IP) and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints. Although rare, they are relatively implicated in some pathology including fractures, infections, arthritis, and osteonecrosis. There is an extensive variability in the reported prevalence of sesamoid bones within different populations the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sesamoid bones of the forefoot, their distribution and morphological variations in Jordanians according to gender and side using plain radiography. Foot radiographs were obtained from patients referred to the foot and ankle clinic at Jordanian Royal Medical Services. The sesamoids of the first MTP joint were found in all radiographs. Bipartite hallucal sesamoid was found in 3.6%, bipartite medial in 2.0 %, bipartite lateral in 1.3%, and bipartite medial and lateral in 0.3%. None of the radiographs showed a single medial or lateral hallucal sesamoid bone. Sesamoids at the second, fourth, and fifth MTP joints were observed in 1.6%, 0.4%, and 5.6%, respectively. The third MTP sesamoid was not observed in this series. A multipartite MTP sesamoid was observed at the fourth and fifth MTP joints and identified in 3.1 % of the feet. No cases were identified with multipartite sesamoid bones at the second or third MTP joints. Coincidence of sesamoid bones at two MTP joints was also observed. Hallucal IP sesamoid was observed in 1.8% and the IP sesamoids of second, third, fourth, and fifth toes were not observed in this series. A thorough knowledge of normal anatomical variants is essential to avoid unnecessary clinical workup and is implicated in anthropological and forensic studies. Further research may be needed to explore the genetic and/or environmental factors that may be attributed to the variations in the prevalence of sesamoid bones in different populations.