The lunate also articulates on its distal and medial surface with the hamate bone. The third metacarpal is connected to the trapezium, to the capitate, and to the hamate. It connects with the pisiform, hamate, and lunate bones. In April, he suffered a fractured hamate bone in his left hand which required surgery. On the ulnar side it is attached to the pisiform and hook of hamate. The fourth and fifth metacarpals are connected to the hamate. The hamate is an irregularly shaped carpal bone found within the hand. The hamate does not fully ossify until about the 15th year of life. The ossification of the hamate starts between 1 and 12 months. Ngoepe played only 27 games in 2011 due to a hamate injury.