Congenital Fusion of the Lunate and Triquetral Bones in the South African Bantu

Twelve cases of congenital fusion of the lunate and triquetral bones have been found in South African Bantu patients. The fusion occurs in four types, an incomplete "pseudarthrosis," bony fusion with a dividing notch at one or both surfaces, or as a complete compound bone with or without other carpal anomalies. The suggestion favoured is that this fusion represents the persistence of a primitive characteristic in African (negro) peoples.