De la Caffinière thumb carpometacarpal replacements. 93 cases at 6 to 16 years follow-up

Functional survival of cementless trapeziometacarpal total joint arthroplasty after upper extremity trauma

INTRODUCTION

Our purpose with this publication is to document the survival of uncemented and unconstrained total trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty after energy trauma to the upper extremity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From 1999 to the present, ten patients carrying total TMC arthroplasty suffered major traumatic injuries on the hand. Eight patients had fractures of the distal radius, one patient had scapho-lunate dissociation and one patient had a dorsal pullout of the triquetrum. A clinical and radiological examination of the patients after the trauma was carried out and compared with the pre-traumatic prosthesis status.

RESULTS

Three patients required surgical intervention for the associated traumatic injury. The postraumatic clinical and functional follow-up of the patients was good, and no differences were documented with respect to mobility, strength and pain at the level of the thumb with respect to the prior to the trauma. No signs of loosening, instability or alteration in the alignment of the components of the protheses were observed in the radiological examinations following the trauma.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high survival rate of uncemented total trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty in the long term, even in the face of energy trauma. It is then a safe implant. Despite of being non-constrained, a good alignment of the prosthetic components is the key to avoid dislocation of the prosthesis.

A randomized controlled trial comparing two modern total wrist arthroplasties : improved function with stable implants, but high complication rates in non-rheumatoid wrists at two years

AIMS

To analyze the short-term outcome of two types of total wrist arthroplasty (TWA) in terms of wrist function, migration, and periprosthetic bone behaviour.

METHODS

A total of 40 patients suffering from non-rheumatoid wrist arthritis were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial comparing the ReMotion and Motec TWAs. Patient-rated and functional outcomes, radiological changes, blood metal ion levels, migration measured by model-based radiostereometric analysis (RSA), bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), complications, loosening, and revision rates at two years were compared.

RESULTS

Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) scores, abbreviated version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire scores, and pain improved similarly and significantly in both groups. Wrist motion improved significantly in the Motec group only, and forearm rotation in the ReMotion group only. Cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) blood ion levels were significantly higher in the metal-on-metal (MoM) Motec group than in the metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) ReMotion group. Mean total translation was 0.65 mm (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26 to 1.12) and 0.27 mm (95% CI 0.14 to 0.47) for the ReMotion carpal and radial components, and 0.32 mm (95% CI 0.22 to 0.45) and 0.26 mm (95% CI 0.20 to 0.34) for the Motec metacarpal and radial components, respectively. Apart from dorsal and volar tilts, which were significantly higher for the radial ReMotion than for the Motec component, no significant differences in absolute migration occurred. BMD around the radial components never returned to baseline. Almost one-third of patients required reoperation due to complications. Two ReMotion implants were revised to Motec TWAs due to carpal component loosening, and three Motec MoM articulations were revised to metal-on-polyether ether ketone due to painful synovitis.

CONCLUSION

Both implants provided matched function and were stable at short-term follow-up, but with a high complication rate. This procedure should be restricted to specialist centres undertaking prospective analysis until its role is clarified.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(10):1132-1141.

Trapeziectomy with Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition versus Trapeziometacarpal Joint Replacement for Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background  The trapeziometacarpal articulation in the thumb is a joint that is second-most commonly affected by osteoarthritis, and this can lead to considerable hand pain and disability. Currently, there is a multiplicity of surgical options available to address this problem, yet none has proven to be significantly superior to the others. Objective  This study aims to compare the outcome of trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition versus trapeziometacarpal joint replacement for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods  A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement standards. The NICE Healthcare Databases Advanced Search (HDAS) tool was used to search articles. One randomized controlled trial (RCT), one prospective cohort study and two retrospective cohort studies were identified. Results  Our results demonstrate a significant difference in the Quick Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (QDASH) score between the trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI) and Joint Replacement groups with the joint replacement group exhibiting better QDASH scores than the LRTI group. We also found that those who had a joint replacement had a significantly better thumb opposition than those in the LRTI group, as demonstrated by a superior Kapandji score. However, the complication rate of joint replacement appears to be higher. Conclusion  Our study reveals that while both treatment options are valid, the limited body of evidence currently available shows that joint replacement carries more risks and thus should not replace the current standard treatment of trapeziectomy with LRTI. This study highlights the need for more trials to be performed to more accurately compare the two treatment modalities. For the time being, we advocate that joint replacement is only performed by surgeons who perform this procedure regularly to reduce the risk of complications.

Thumb Carpometacarpal Implant Arthroplasty

Thumb carpometacarpal implant arthroplasty aims to preserve thumb length and motion and to provide pain relief and functional recovery after a short postoperative time. For several decades, implant arthroplasty has been performed with total trapeziometacarpal joint prosthesis using the concept of "ball-and-socket" joint. More recently, pyrocarbon implants used as hemiarthroplasty or interposition arthroplasty have been proposed. Whatever the type of arthroplasty used, the surgical technique must be precise and may require a learning curve. Implant arthroplasty has proven that in the medium and long-term, it may be considered as a valid and reliable alternative to trapeziectomy.

Partial trapeziectomy and pyrocarbon interpositional implant (Pyrodisk) for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis in the active working population: outcomes of a 10 years-experience

The treatment of trapeziometacarpal (TM) osteoarthritis is still debated, as many surgical options are available, and no technique has proven to be superior. Prosthetic treatment in this context has been described since the early 60s. Recently, the use of pyrolytic carbon-based prosthesis has revolutionized arthroplasty surgery in the hand. We performed a retrospective investigation of our surgical management of TM osteoarthritis since 2010 including the study only patients treated with partial trapeziectomy and Pyrodisk implant, with at least 5 years follow-up. After the application of inclusion criteria, 26 patients (6 males and 20 females) were retained. Despite the literature suggesting that implant TM surgery is well suited for older patients, in our experience, the procedure was mainly proposed to the young manual worker, with high demands in terms of thumb strength and stability (mean age of 53 years old, range 37-65). A statistically significant improvement in post-operative DASH, Kapandji and scores was observed. As well, strength measurements, particularly pinch strength and grip strength, increased significantly after the surgery. According to our findings, the Pyrodisk implant provides satisfactory results in terms of thumb strength and stability even in young and active patients and should therefore be considered as a valuable option in selected cases. Meticulous surgical procedure is mandatory in order to avoid complications and should therefore be executed by an expert surgeon. Abbreviation: IV: level of evidence.

Long-Term Results of Joint Arthroplasty with Total Prosthesis for Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis in Patients over 65 Years of Age

Trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis (TMCOA) is a highly prevalent disease in the older population. Many different types of surgical treatments are possible, depending on the degree of joint involvement, the personal and professional circumstances of the patient and the preferences of the orthopedic surgeon. This paper evaluated the clinical and radiological results of consecutive cohorts of patients over 65 years old treated with total joint arthroplasties (TJA) of the ball and socket type (B&S) for TMCOA, with a minimum of 10 years follow-up. The survival rate (Kaplan–Meier) of the functional prostheses at 10 years was 92.2% (95% CI (89.1%, 96.1%). These functional arthroplasty patients, after 10 years of follow-up, showed little or no pain, good function and good key pinch, without radiological alterations. TJAs of the B&S type are a long lasting, effective and reliable alternative to surgical treatment of TMCOA in patients over 65 years of age, when they are performed with the patient selection criteria and surgical technique described throughout this study.

Trapeziometacarpal prosthesis: an updated systematic review

The trapeziometacarpal prosthesis is mostly used in Europe to treat osteoarthritis of the basal joint of the thumb. Its supposed benefits are that it restores the length of the thumb, improves strength, function and mobility while reducing recovery time compared to other surgical treatments. However, previous reviews of the literature could not confirm these assumptions. This article provides an updated systematic review to help answer to these questions through a methodical statistical analysis and to quantify the two main complications, namely failure and deep infection. To achieve these aims, a selection of articles including implant case series was done in the Medline database based on specific criteria. Data about pain, function, strength, infection, and failure were compiled and a statistical analysis was performed. Results show a fast recovery in terms of pain and function but the positive effect on strength seems limited. The failure rate represented by the revision rate is high and the deep infection rate is fairly low. Randomized controlled studies are needed to obtain reliable data to compare the prosthesis to other surgical treatments.

Partial trapeziectomy and pyrocarbon interpositional arthroplasty for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis: minimum 8-year follow-up

We undertook a retrospective study to evaluate minimal 8-year outcomes of 46 trapeziometacarpal joints (46 patients) treated with pyrocarbon implant arthroplasty after partial trapeziectomy for trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis in two different hand surgery units. The mean follow-up interval was 9.5 years (average 113 months with a range 97-144 months). The study showed that pyrocarbon interpositional arthroplasty provided pain relief and high patient satisfaction. All patients experienced a reduction in the DASH score, with an average change of 30 points. The visual analogue scale score, the Kapandji score, and key pinch also showed remarkable improvement. The PyroDisk implant exhibited good longevity, with good implant survival. A review of the literature revealed that the functional outcomes after implant surgery are not superior to more common techniques, such as trapeziectomy with or without ligamentoplasty. Therefore, this is a reliable surgery but may not have added benefits over simpler surgical treatments. This implant could have a role, perhaps in a select group of young patients, as a time-procuring procedure. Level of evidence: IV.

Trapeziometacarpal total joint arthroplasty for osteoarthritis: 199 patients with a minimum of 10 years follow-up

We report outcomes of 228 consecutive patients with total joint arthroplasty using the Arpe® prosthesis, among which 216 trapeziometacarpal joints in 199 patients had a minimum of 10 years follow-up. The cumulative survival rate of the 216 implants at 10 years using the Kaplan-Meyer method was 93%. Two hundred joints were functional and painless. We found good integration and positioning of the components in 184 (93%) of the joints. Sixteen prostheses failed. We conclude that this implant has acceptable long-term survival rate and restores good hand function. We also report our methods to improve implant survival and to decrease the risk of component malpositioning, and failure rate. Level of evidence: II.

Early Cup Loosening After Metal-on-Metal Total Joint Replacement of the Trapeziometacarpal Joint: A Retrieval Study

PURPOSE

To investigate the possible mechanisms behind early cup loosening in a metal-on-metal trapeziometacarpal joint replacement.

METHODS

The trapezia from 5 female patients were removed as part of a salvage procedure after a median of 22 months (range, 7-43 months) after implantation. Three osteoarthritic patients with symptomatic cup loosening and 2 with instability had a median age of 62 years (range, 59-65 years) at primary surgery. The trapezia with cups in situ were preserved and processed for histomorphometry. Studies with laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy were also performed on 2 of the specimens.

RESULTS

In all 5 specimens, osteolytic lesions undermined the cups and were also seen at the cup edges, completely surrounding the loose cups. Large amounts of dark particular material were seen in the periprosthetic tissues, mostly internalized by macrophages. The presence of chrome and cobalt in these regions was confirmed. Four of the 5 cups showed marked or complete loss of hydroxyapatite.

CONCLUSIONS

We have found several possible explanations for the poor performance of this cup, including its cannulated design and metal-on-metal bearing. The changes seen are early and advanced, raising serious concerns about the implant and particularly the articulation.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic V.

Failure Rates of Base of Thumb Arthritis Surgery: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

The purpose of the current review was to estimate failure rates of trapeziometacarpal (TMC) implants and compare against failure rates of nonimplant techniques for surgical treatment of TMC joint (basal thumb joint) arthritis.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted to identify articles reporting on thumb implant arthroplasty and on nonimplant arthroplasty techniques for treatment of base of thumb arthritis in the English literature. The collected data were combined to calculate failure rates per 100 procedure-years. Failure was defined by the requirement for a secondary salvage procedure. The failure rates between different implant and nonimplant arthroplasty groups were compared directly and implants with higher than anticipated failure rates were identified.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-five articles on implant arthroplasty and 33 articles on the outcome of nonimplant surgical arthroplasty of the TMC joint were included. The implant arthroplasty failure rates per 100 procedure-years were total joint replacement (2.4), hemiarthroplasty (2.5), interposition with partial trapezial resection (4.5), interposition with complete trapezial resection (1.7), and interposition with no trapezial resection (4.5). The nonimplant arthroplasty failure rates per 100 procedure-years were: trapeziectomy (0.49), joint fusion (0.52), and trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction ± tendon interposition (0.23).

CONCLUSIONS

Several implant designs (arthroplasties) had high rates of failure due to aseptic loosening, dislocation, and persisting pain. Furthermore, some implants had higher than anticipated failure rates than other implants within each class. Overall, the failure rates of nonimplant techniques were lower than those of implant arthroplasty.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic IV.

Trapeziectomy with LRTI or joint replacement for CMC1 arthritis, a randomised controlled trial

We compared an uncemented joint replacement (Elektra) with trapeziectomy (with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition, LRTI) for the treatment of primary osteoarthritis in the first carpometacarpal joint (CMC1) in a randomised controlled trial. Forty patients were included (20 in each group) and followed for 2 years. The median age in the groups was 64 and 61, respectively, with 14 females in each. At final follow-up, there was no difference in the primary outcome measure (the quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand score, QDASH), but the joint replacement group had significantly better motion and strength during the early rehabilitation period and significantly better range of thumb abduction and extension at the last follow-up. There were more complications in the joint replacement group with revision of prosthetic components in five cases, two of them due to cup loosening. Radiologically, lucency zones were seen around either cup or stem in 15 patients. Most were small, but two cases with major osteolysis resulted in revision. Shortening of the thumb ray was observed after trapeziectomy.

Early Results of the ARPE Arthroplasty Versus Trapeziectomy for the Treatment of Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

Thumb carpometacarpal joint arthroplasty for osteoarthritis may hold advantages over trapeziectomy by preserving range of motion, whilst providing stability and preventing thumb shortening.

METHODS

We compare functional and satisfaction outcomes scores, radiological shortening and complication rates between patients treated with trapeziectomy and those receiving the ARPE thumb CMCJ arthroplasty.

RESULTS

Seventy-five trapeziectomies and one hundred and ten ARPE arthroplasties were performed over the study period. Both treatments resulted in significant improvements in functional scores. When matching patients according to pre-operative function, patients receiving the ARPE arthroplasty had better post-operative function (Quick DASH: trapeziectomy = 25.1, ARPE = 16.8). More patients receiving the ARPE arthroplasty were satisfied with their treatment (trapeziectomy = 7.8/10, ARPE = 8.7/10) and would have the same treatment again (trapeziectomy = 76%, ARPE = 89%). The ARPE also resulted in less thumb shortening. However the ARPE arthroplasty is associated with a higher complication rate, with 14% of patients requiring further surgery at a mean of 2 years follow up (95% implant survival).

CONCLUSIONS

Both trapeziectomy and the ARPE CMCJ arthroplasty are effective treatment options for thumb CMCJ osteoarthritis. Arthroplasty may offer potential advantages in terms of post-operative function and patient satisfaction. However the risk of complications and requirement for further surgery is greater and must be carefully considered during patient selection and pre-operative counselling.

Ivory arthroplasty for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis: 10-year follow-up

This prospective study investigates long-term functional outcome after total trapeziometacarpal joint replacement with the Ivory arthroplasty for trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. Clinical outcome, overall function, pain, and radiologic outcome after a minimum of 10 years were evaluated for 26 Ivory arthroplasty in 24 patients. Two patients had bilateral arthroplasties. The female to male ratio was 22:2, and the mean age was 71 years (range 57-83). The mean follow-up period was 130 months (range 120-142). Overall functioning as defined by the QuickDASH score and visual analogue pain score improved by 50% and 81%, respectively, when compared with the preoperative status. However, these outcomes deteriorated beyond 5 years after surgery. Long-term results suggest the Ivory arthroplasty to be a reliable treatment for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis since it improves overall function and reduces pain up to 10 years postoperatively. However, revision within 10 years after surgery was needed in four of 26 cases. Level of evidence: II.

Can surgical guidelines minimize complications after Maïa® trapeziometacarpal joint arthroplasty with unconstrained cups?

The most important complications of trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty are dislocation and component loosening. Incorrect cup position is often a contributing factor. Intra-operative guidelines to optimize cup orientation have recently been described. We evaluated the functional and radiological outcome of 50 Maïa® trapeziometacarpal prostheses that were implanted according to these guidelines. The minimum follow-up was 56 months. No constrained cups were used. Functional outcome was good to excellent. No spontaneous dislocations occurred. No radiological signs of loosening were observed. There was one case of premature wear. The survival rate was 96% (95% confidence interval 85 to 99%) at a mean of 65 months, with two prosthesie removed for posttraumatic trapezial fractures. This study shows that correct implant position can lead to reliable medium-term results after trapeziometacarpal joint arthroplasty.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Joint Survival Analysis and Clinical Outcome of Total Joint Arthroplasties With the ARPE Implant in the Treatment of Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis With a Minimal Follow-Up of 5 Years

PURPOSE

The ARPE joint arthroplasty was introduced in 1991 for the treatment of symptomatic trapeziometacarpal (TMC) osteoarthritis. The primary outcome of this prospective study is to report the medium- to long-term joint survival of this prosthesis. Our secondary outcomes are the clinical and functional results.

METHODS

A prospective, consecutive case series study was done at our hand unit. Patients included in the study had at least 5 years follow-up after a total joint arthroplasty for osteoarthritis of the TMC joint using the ARPE implant. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate implant survival over time. Clinical and radiological assessment was recorded prospectively: before surgery and at 1 year and 5 years or more after surgery. We compared the means of the Kapandji index (assessing the thumb range of motion and opposition), the grip strength, and the pinch strength before surgery and at the latest follow-up.

RESULTS

We included all 166 prostheses in the survival analysis with a mean follow-up of 80 months. Five prostheses (3%) required revision surgery and 1 implant (0.6%) failed. Therefore, Kaplan-Meier survival probability was 96% with a mean follow-up of 80 months (95% confidence interval, 91-98). A total of 120 arthroplasties from 115 patients were included in the clinical analysis. At 5 years' follow-up, the median Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score was 4.6 (range, 0-86.6). There was a significant improvement of the mean opposition and grip strength of the affected thumb at final follow-up in comparison with the preoperative values. There was also a significant improvement in the mean pinch strength at 1 year and 5 years after surgery compared with preoperative measurements.

CONCLUSIONS

In our series, the ARPE prosthesis of the thumb TMC joint has proven to be a reliable and effective implant. Mean motion and strength increased whereas pain decreased after surgery and these results remained constant within the follow-up period.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic IV.

Trapeziectomy With Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition Versus a Trapeziometacarpal Prosthesis for the Treatment of Thumb Basal Joint Osteoarthritis

Numerous surgical procedures have been described to treat trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, but no approach is currently considered superior. Good long-term outcomes have been reported with multiple procedures. No studies have been published comparing outcomes of the Arpe joint replacement (Biomet, Valence, France) with those of ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI) using the Burton-Pellegrini technique. The study objective was to compare clinical outcomes between these techniques. Sixty-five patients with Eaton stage III osteoarthritis of the thumb were included in this retrospective follow-up study. Patients were assigned to LRTI (LRTI group) or total joint replacement (Arpe group) and were followed for a mean of 4.8 years. The LRTI group included 34 patients and the Arpe group included 31. Clinical outcome variables were determined preoperatively and every 6 months postoperatively. Pain relief and functional improvement were similar between groups. Pinch strength and range of motion were superior in the Arpe group. Metacarpophalangeal hyperextension appeared to be prevented in the Arpe group but increased over the follow-up period in the LRTI group. However, the complication rate was higher in the Arpe group. Arthroplasty with the Arpe prosthesis can be considered in selected patients who require greater strength and range of motion, although it has been associated with a higher complications rate. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(4):e681-e686.].

Results of 115 Rubis II reverse thumb carpometacarpal joint prostheses with a mean follow-up of 10 years

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological results of the Rubis II thumb carpometacarpal joint reverse prosthesis, at a mean follow-up of 10 years. Between 1997 and 2008, 253 prostheses were implanted in 199 patients; 115 were reviewed. The survival after a mean of 10 years was 89%. At the last follow-up, 70% of prostheses were painless; the others reported moderate or intermittent pain. The satisfaction rate was 98%. The mean opposition was 9 on the Kapandji scale; the mean QuickDASH score was 30. Wrist, key and tip pinch strengths were comparable with the non-operated side. Of the 115 implants, one was radiologically loose (1%) and 15 had suffered dislocations (13%), 12 of which were caused by an injury. Eleven thumbs had revision surgery. This study confirms that the good clinical results of the Rubis II prosthesis are maintained in the medium and long term, and represents a useful alternative to trapeziectomy for selected patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

WITHDRAWN: Surgery for thumb (trapeziometacarpal joint) osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

Surgery is used to treat persistent pain and dysfunction at the base of the thumb when conservative management, such as splinting, or medical management, such as oral analgesics, is no longer adequate in reducing disability and pain. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2005.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of different surgical techniques for trapeziometacarpal (thumb) osteoarthritis.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following sources up to 08 August 2013: CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2013, Issue 8), MEDLINE (1950 to August 2013), EMBASE (1974 to August 2013), CINAHL (1982 to August 2013), Clinicaltrials.gov (to August 2013) and World Health Organization (WHO) Clinical Trials Portal (to August 2013).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs where the intervention was surgery for people with thumb osteoarthritis. Outcomes were pain, physical function, quality of life, patient global assessment, adverse events, treatment failure or trapeziometacarpal joint imaging.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by the Cochrane Collaboration. Two review authors independently screened and included studies according to the inclusion criteria, assessed the risk of bias and extracted data, including adverse events.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 11 studies with 670 participants. Seven surgical procedures were identified (trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI), trapeziectomy, trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction, trapeziectomy with interpositional arthroplasty (IA), Artelon joint resurfacing, arthrodesis and Swanson joint replacement). We did not find any studies that compared surgery with sham surgery or surgery with non-surgical interventions.Most included studies had an unclear risk of most biases which raises doubt about the results. No procedure demonstrated any superiority over another in terms of pain, physical function, quality of life, patient global assessment, adverse events, treatment failure (re-operation) or trapeziometacarpal joint imaging. One study demonstrated a difference in adverse events (mild-moderate swelling) between Artelon joint replacement and trapeziectomy with tendon interposition. However, the quality of evidence was very low due to a high risk of bias and imprecision of results.Low quality evidence suggests trapeziectomy with LRTI may not provide additional benefits or result in more adverse events over trapeziectomy alone. Mean pain (three studies, 162 participants) was 26 mm on a 0 to 100 mm VAS (0 is no pain) for trapeziectomy alone, trapeziectomy with LRTI reduced pain by a mean of 2.8 mm (95% confidence interval (CI) -9.8 to 4.2) or an absolute reduction of 3% (-10% to 4%). Mean physical function (three studies, 211 participants) was 31.1 points on a 0 to 100 point scale (0 is best physical function, or no disability) with trapeziectomy alone, trapeziectomy with LRTI resulted in sightly lower function scores (standardised mean difference 0.1, 95% CI -0.30 to 0.32), an equivalent to a worsening of 0.2 points (95% CI -5.8 to 6.1) on a 0 to 100 point scale (absolute decrease in function 0.03% (-0.83% to 0.88%)). Low quality evidence from four studies (328 participants) indicates that the mean number of adverse events was 10 per 100 participants for trapeziectomy alone, and 19 events per 100 participants for trapeziectomy with LRTI (RR 1.89, 95% CI 0.96 to 3.73) or an absolute risk increase of 9% (95% CI 0% to 28%). Low quality evidence from one study (42 participants) indicates that the mean scapho-metacarpal distance was 2.3 mm for the trapeziectomy alone group, trapeziectomy with LRTI resulted in a mean of 0.1 mm less distance (95% CI -0.81 to 0.61). None of the included trials reported global assessment, quality of life, and revision or re-operation rates.Low-quality evidence from two small studies (51 participants) indicated that trapeziectomy with LRTI may not improve function or slow joint degeneration, or produce additional adverse events over trapeziectomy and ligament reconstruction.We are uncertain of the benefits or harms of other surgical techniques due to the mostly low quality evidence from single studies and the low reporting rates of key outcomes. There was insufficient evidence to assess if trapeziectomy with LRTI had additional benefit over arthrodesis or trapeziectomy with IA. There was also insufficient evidence to assess if trapeziectomy with IA had any additional benefit over the Artelon joint implant, the Swanson joint replacement or trapeziectomy alone.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We did not identify any studies that compared surgery to sham surgery or to non-operative treatments. We were unable to demonstrate that any technique confers a benefit over another technique in terms of pain and physical function. Furthermore, the included studies were not of high enough quality to provide conclusive evidence that the compared techniques provided equivalent outcomes.

Chrome nitride coating reduces wear of small, spherical CrCoMo metal-on-metal articulations in a joint simulator

Metal-on-metal articulations have fallen out of favour in larger joint replacements, but are still used in smaller joints. Coating the articulation has been suggested as one way of reducing wear. We compared a standard 6 mm CrCoMo articulation designed for the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb with a chromium nitride-coated version after 512,000 cycles in a joint simulator. A total of 6 articulations in each group were tested with a unidirectional load of 5 kg in Ringer's solution. We found a statistically significant reduction in weight loss, amount of metallic wear produced and volumetric wear for the chromium nitride-coated articulation. Our findings support the use of chromium nitride coating in order to minimize the amount of metallic wear produced.

Complications and failures of the trapeziometacarpal Maia® prosthesis: A series of 156 cases

When implanting the Maia^® trapeziometacarpal prosthesis, surgeons will be faced with a variety of complications they must be able to recognize and anticipate. Their ability to deal with these complications and possibly even failures is governed by their knowledge of the right steps to take. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the incidence of complications reported during implantation of the Maia^® prosthesis, to describe their nature and potential predisposing factors, and to study failures and their outcomes. Between January 2008 and December 2012, 156 Maia^® prosthetic joints were implanted in 139 patients at one center by one surgeon. Clinical and radiological parameters were analyzed before, during and after surgery. The implant characteristics were documented and the surgical technique used was analyzed. The overall postoperative complication rate was 35.9%. The most common complication (16%) was tendinopathy. Prosthesis dislocation (4.5%) and trapezoid loosening (2.6%) were the primary causes of failure. Eighteen patients required secondary surgical revision (11.5%) and the implant was removed in 12 cases (failure rate of 7.7%). Two factors were significantly correlated with the onset of complications, independent of their nature and irrespective of whether secondary surgical revision was required: a deformed thumb prior to surgery and the position of the trapezial cup. Mediocre trapezium bone quality was a statistically significant factor for secondary surgical revision. The survival rate of the Maia^® prosthesis was 90.8% at 62months. These factors influence the onset of complications and must be taken into account in the pre-surgical workup in order to identify the best candidates for successful Maia^® joint replacement. For the most part, the failure rate in our series was due to inappropriate surgical technique rather than an inherent defect in the prosthesis. A meticulous, precise surgical technique is therefore essential.

The management of complications of small joint arthrodesis and arthroplasty

Arthrodesis and arthroplasty are surgical options used for the management of pain, stiffness, deformity, and instability related to arthritis and traumatic injury of the small joints of the hand. Arthrodesis and arthroplasty come with a risk of postoperative infection. Superficial soft tissue infections can often be managed with oral antibiotics alone. Deep infections and osteomyelitis frequently require removal of hardware in addition to antibiotics and may require surgical revision once the infection is cleared. Selection of the most appropriate revision technique depends on the underlying cause of the initial failure, patients' functional and outcome needs, and surgeon preference.

Thumb carpometacarpal joint total arthroplasty: a systematic review

Thumb carpometacarpal joint total arthroplasty has been undertaken for many years. The proponents believe the short-term outcomes are better than trapeziectomy and its variants, but the longer term complications are often higher. This systematic review of all peer reviewed articles on thumb carpometacarpal joint total arthroplasty for osteoarthritis shows that there are reports of many implants. Some are no longer available. The reported outcomes are very variable: for some there are good long-term outcomes to beyond 10 years ; for others there are unacceptably high early rates of failure. Overall the published evidence does not show that total arthroplasty is better than trapeziectomy and its variants yet there is a higher complication rate and significant extra cost of using an implant. Future research needs to compare total arthroplasty with trapeziectomy to assess short term results where the arthroplasties may be better, long-term outcomes and the healthcare and personal costs so that surgeons and patients can make fully informed choices about the treatment of symptomatic thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis.

Surgery for thumb (trapeziometacarpal joint) osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

Surgery is used to treat persistent pain and dysfunction at the base of the thumb when conservative management, such as splinting, or medical management, such as oral analgesics, is no longer adequate in reducing disability and pain. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2005.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of different surgical techniques for trapeziometacarpal (thumb) osteoarthritis.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following sources up to 08 August 2013: CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2013, Issue 8), MEDLINE (1950 to August 2013), EMBASE (1974 to August 2013), CINAHL (1982 to August 2013), Clinicaltrials.gov (to August 2013) and World Health Organization (WHO) Clinical Trials Portal (to August 2013).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs where the intervention was surgery for people with thumb osteoarthritis. Outcomes were pain, physical function, quality of life, patient global assessment, adverse events, treatment failure or trapeziometacarpal joint imaging. We excluded trials that compared non-surgical interventions with surgery.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by the Cochrane Collaboration. Two review authors independently screened and included studies according to the inclusion criteria, assessed the risk of bias and extracted data, including adverse events.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 11 studies with 670 participants. Seven surgical procedures were identified (trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI), trapeziectomy, trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction, trapeziectomy with interpositional arthroplasty (IA), Artelon joint resurfacing, arthrodesis and Swanson joint replacement).Most included studies had an unclear risk of most biases which raises doubt about the results. No procedure demonstrated any superiority over another in terms of pain, physical function, quality of life, patient global assessment, adverse events, treatment failure (re-operation) or trapeziometacarpal joint imaging. One study demonstrated a difference in adverse events (mild-moderate swelling) between Artelon joint replacement and trapeziectomy with tendon interposition. However, the quality of evidence was very low due to a high risk of bias and imprecision of results.Low quality evidence suggests trapeziectomy with LRTI may not provide additional benefits or result in more adverse events over trapeziectomy alone. Mean pain (three studies, 162 participants) was 26 mm on a 0 to 100 mm VAS (0 is no pain) for trapeziectomy alone, trapeziectomy with LRTI reduced pain by a mean of 2.8 mm (95% confidence interval (CI) -9.8 to 4.2) or an absolute reduction of 3% (-10% to 4%). Mean physical function (three studies, 211 participants) was 31.1 points on a 0 to 100 point scale (0 is best physical function, or no disability) with trapeziectomy alone, trapeziectomy with LRTI resulted in sightly lower function scores (standardised mean difference 0.1, 95% CI -0.30 to 0.32), an equivalent to a worsening of 0.2 points (95% CI -5.8 to 6.1) on a 0 to 100 point scale (absolute decrease in function 0.03% (-0.83% to 0.88%)). Low quality evidence from four studies (328 participants) indicates that the mean number of adverse events was 10 per 100 participants for trapeziectomy alone, and 19 events per 100 participants for trapeziectomy with LRTI (RR 1.89, 95% CI 0.96 to 3.73) or an absolute risk increase of 9% (95% CI 0% to 28%). Low quality evidence from one study (42 participants) indicates that the mean scapho-metacarpal distance was 2.3 mm for the trapeziectomy alone group, trapeziectomy with LRTI resulted in a mean of 0.1 mm less distance (95% CI -0.81 to 0.61). None of the included trials reported global assessment, quality of life, and revision or re-operation rates.Low-quality evidence from two small studies (51 participants) indicated that trapeziectomy with LRTI may not improve function or slow joint degeneration, or produce additional adverse events over trapeziectomy and ligament reconstruction.We are uncertain of the benefits or harms of other surgical techniques due to the mostly low quality evidence from single studies and the low reporting rates of key outcomes. There was insufficient evidence to assess if trapeziectomy with LRTI had additional benefit over arthrodesis or trapeziectomy with IA. There was also insufficient evidence to assess if trapeziectomy with IA had any additional benefit over the Artelon joint implant, the Swanson joint replacement or trapeziectomy alone.We did not find any studies that compared any other combination of the other techniques mentioned above or any other techniques including a sham procedure.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We did not identify any studies that compared surgery to sham surgery and we excluded studies that compared surgery to non-operative treatments. We were unable to demonstrate that any technique confers a benefit over another technique in terms of pain and physical function. Furthermore, the included studies were not of high enough quality to provide conclusive evidence that the compared techniques provided equivalent outcomes.

Pyrocarbon interposition (PyroDisk) implant for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis: minimum 5-year follow-up

PURPOSE

To report outcomes after a minimum of 5 years following pyrocarbon interposition (PyroDisk) trapeziometacarpal joint implant for osteoarthritis at a single center.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the midterm clinical and radiological outcomes of 19 patients who had a pyrocarbon interposition implant (PyroDisk; Integra Life Sciences, Plainsboro, NJ) arthroplasty. The rate and causes of repeat surgeries, revisions, and complications were examined.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 68 months. Patient satisfaction was high. The mobility of the operated thumb was restored to a range of motion comparable with that of the contralateral thumb. Grip strength improved by 26%. Overall function, according to the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score, showed an average improvement of 71 to 20. Pain decreased by 78% according to the numerical rating scale. Radiological evaluation using a modification of the system described by Herren revealed progression of the periprosthetic lucency (grade I-II) of the implant after 5 years in 5 of 19 (26%) patients. Progression of lucency did not predict implant loosening or failure at 5 years. Two patients had symptomatic instability that required revision. No dislocations occurred. The 5-year survival of the prosthesis was 90%.

CONCLUSIONS

The PyroDisk implant for treating advanced trapeziometacarpal arthritis did not demonstrate superiority over published outcome data of trapeziectomy with or without ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic IV.

Ten-year long-term results of total joint arthroplasties with ARPE® implant in the treatment of trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis

Between May 1999 and April 2002 a total of 69 consecutive thumb carpometacarpal joint arthoplasties were performed in a total of 64 patients for carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis using the cementless hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated unconstrained ARPE implant. Clinical, functional and radiological results at 10-year follow-up are presented. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Of the 64 patients, four were lost to follow-up, 60 implants (92.3%) were functional and five (7.7%) were not (two dislocated, two were removed and one with aseptic loosening). Survival estimate for functional implants over 10 years was 93.9% (95% confidence interval 82.3-97.9). The radiographs were satisfactory in 82.4%. There was subsidence of the cup in 15.8%. Thumb carpometacarpal joint arthroplasty with the ARPE implant offers a reliable treatment alternative in patients with Eaton grade III or IV thumb carpometacarpal joint arthritis in the presence of good bone stock.

Evidence-based medicine: thumb carpometacarpal arthroplasty

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Recount the epidemiology of basilar joint arthritis. 2. Understand how the anatomy and kinematics of this joint contribute to the development of the disease process. 3. Combine patient history, clinical examination, and radiographic findings to formulate a diagnosis and staging of the arthritis. 4. Incorporate conservative management into the patient treatment plan to aid in determining a patient's surgical candidacy. 5. Comprehend the basic principles of available surgical options, potential complications, and evidence pertaining to surgical outcome.

SUMMARY

This article has been prepared to accompany practice-based assessment with ongoing surgical education for the Maintenance of Certification for the American Board of Plastic Surgery. It is structured for physicians to comparatively evaluate their care of a patient with arthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint.

Clinical and radiological outcomes of the Ivory arthroplasty for trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis with a minimum of 5 years of follow-up: a prospective single-centre cohort study

We present the results of a 5 year prospective follow-up study on the functional outcome after total replacement of the trapeziometacarpal joint with the Ivory prosthesis (Memometal, Stryker Corporate, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA) in 22 patients. The female to male ratio was 21:1 and the mean age was 66 (range 54-78) years. The mean follow-up period was 67 (range 60-77) months after operation. Patient satisfaction was high. The mobility of the operated thumb was restored to a range of motion comparable to the contralateral thumb. Key pinch and grip strength improved by 13% and 31%, respectively. Overall function, according to Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) score, improved by 59%. Pain decreased by 85% according to the numerical rating scale. Radiological evaluation revealed no loosening of the implant after 5 years except in one patient who required revision due to polythene wear with secondary joint instability. Another patient had asymptomatic polythene wear that required no revision but remains in follow-up. The 5 year overall survival of the prosthesis was 95%. These medium-term results suggest that the Ivory arthroplasty is a reliable option for treating advanced trapeziometacarpal arthritis, because it appears to give a very good functional outcome and has the potential for long-term survival rates.

COMPARISON OF TWO UNCEMENTED TRAPEZIO-METACARPAL CUPS: A FINITE ELEMENT STUDY

Trapezium components from two uncemented total joint replacements were compared in a three-dimensional finite element model. A 100 N axial and angular load was applied in a normal and an osteoporotic bone model. The axial deformation and maximum periprosthetic stress are greater for the ElektraTM than the Motec CMC® cup. The Motec CMC® design is less sensitive to changing bone quality. The ElektraTM cup transmits more stress to the cortical bone rim in all load conditions, but under angular loading the proportionate increase in stress is lower. The Motec CMC® design distributes the stress and contact pressure more evenly, whereas the ElektraTM transfers most of the load to the cortical bone rim and the screw hole base. The design features that are believed to be of greatest significance for the differences are the raised centre of rotation of the Motec CMC® cup and the collar acting as a lever arm.

Outcome comparison of primary trapeziectomy versus secondary trapeziectomy following failed total trapeziometacarpal joint replacement

PURPOSE

To compare the clinical outcome between secondary trapezial excision after failed total trapeziometacarpal joint replacement and primary trapeziectomy.

METHODS

Between October 2003 and July 2008, we performed 16 revision procedures in our institution because of failed trapeziometacarpal joint replacements. Of these patients, 15 were followed up. We compared clinical outcomes between this group and 15 patients treated with primary trapeziectomy in a matched-pair analysis. The matching criteria were sex, age, and time from surgery. The mean follow-up period was 48 months. We evaluated mobility (radial and palmar abduction, opposition, and Kapandji score), grip strength, and patient self-assessment (pain; satisfaction; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score; and activity restriction).

RESULTS

According to most of the clinical evaluation methods (range of motion and Kapandji score) and subjective assessments (pain; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand), outcome did not differ considerably between the 2 study groups. In particular, the results of strength testing were not significantly different between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed that the outcomes of secondary trapeziectomy after failed trapeziometacarpal joint replacement arthroplasty generally do not differ from the primary trapeziectomy results. Although it shows high revision rates in the literature, trapeziometacarpal total joint arthroplasty might be a treatment option. In the case of failure, the outcome of secondary trapeziectomy is comparable to that of primary trapeziectomy.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic III.

Trapezium prosthetic arthroplasty (silicone, Artelon, metal, and pyrocarbon)

Trapezium prosthetic arthroplasty has been utilized to treat basal joint arthritis for nearly five decades in an attempt to mitigate some of the potential disadvantages of trapeziectomy while preserving range of motion. Implant arthroplasty seeks to preserve joint biomechanics, avoids metacarpal subsidence, and should provide immediate stability. These benefits may lead to improvements in strength, durability, and a decrease in metacarpophalangeal joint hyperextension which can occur subsequent to metacarpal shortening. First generation implants were primarily silicone trapezial spacers. While the use of these implants has been curtailed by their association with silicone synovitis, they still remain an option for low demand, rheumatoid patients. More recently developed synthetic spacers such as Artelon interposition arthroplasties have had results inferior to more established procedures including trapeziectomy. A variety of metal total joint prostheses have been developed and some of the more recent designs have shown good short-term outcomes. There are a number of different pyrocarbon implants that have become more recently available which range from trapezial substitution to non-anatomic hemiarthroplasty. Pyrocarbon arthroplasty offers a number theoretical advantages however early results have been mixed and further long term data is required.

De la Caffinière thumb trapeziometacarpal joint arthroplasty: 16-26 year follow-up

Seventy-one patients (93 implants) had a de la Caffinière prosthesis implanted between 1980 and 1989 and were reviewed and reported in 1997. We reviewed this series 10 years later. Similar outcome measures were used as in the original study, pinch and grip strength measured and validated outcome scores obtained (DASH and EQ-5D). Radiographic outcome was assessed. Twenty-six patients with 39 implants were available for review at a mean of 19 years (range, 16-26 years). Survivorship at 26 years was 73.9% (95% CI, 61.2 to 86.6) for re-operation and 26.0% (95% CI, 0 to 52.7) for all failure. Patients had satisfactory power and thumb mobility and continued to be satisfied without pain. Registries should log such prostheses and add to implant survival data.

High frequency failure of the Moje thumb carpometacarpal joint arthroplasty

Arthroplasty is one of several options for treating symptomatic osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint. There are various hemi- and total arthroplasties available on the market. We report our experience of treating 12 patients with the Moje Acamo CMC1 prosthesis. We reviewed all the patients at a mean of 50 months postoperatively. All patients presented with loosening, migration or tilting of one or both implant components. Nine patients were symptomatic enough to warrant revision surgery with removal of the implant leaving a pseudarthrosis. At the last follow-up, five patients (42%) had already received revision surgery. All patients still possessing an implant showed progressive signs of implant loosening, although some of them had no symptoms. In order to assess their overall disadvantage compared with patients treated by primary trapeziectomy, the outcomes of these two groups were compared (matched pairs). The outcomes after revision surgery were comparable with those of primary trapeziectomy. We no longer use the Moje Acamo CMC1 implant and recommend that patients who have received this implant should be monitored carefully both clinically and radiologically.

Two-year outcomes of Elektra prosthesis for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis: a longitudinal cohort study

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes of Elektra® trapeziometacarpal prostheses after 2 years. We present a longitudinal cohort study of 19 prostheses for the treatment of Eaton stage II and III osteoarthritis (mean follow-up of 29 months). QuickDASH score, pinch strength and mobility were determined, and radiographs were analysed. Isotope scans were taken in patients with persistent pain or suspected loosening. Although the QuickDASH score was 69 before and 38 after surgery, nine patients had pain at the trapeziometacarpal joint with radiographic osteolysis around the trapezium component and a positive bone scan uptake at subsequent follow-up. The implant was revised in three of these nine patients and another patient underwent surgery for periprosthetic fracture. Only ten of the 19 implants showed no sign of failure. Most problems derived from the trapezium cup. Because of these poor outcomes after only 2 years, we cannot recommend this implant.

Reconstruction for failed trapeziometacarpal implant

Trapeziometacarpal prosthesis by metallic implant is used to treat thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. Many causes of failure have been described whereas revision techniques still remain a challenging surgery. In this article, we describe a revision strategy in a failed metallic cemented trapeziometacarpal implant with major first metacarpal shortening.

The modified Zancolli arthroplasty for basal thumb arthritis

The modified Zancolli arthroplasty for basal thumb arthritis is an alternative to different procedures described for this pathology. As most of the methods, it includes complete trapeziectomy. The main difference is that the interposition is made with capsule (resembling Colonna's method for the hips) and that the base of the metacarpal is stabilized in the correct place by a tendon transfer (performed with an accessory of abductor pollicis longus). The main advantage of this method is the short immobilization time (2 wk) and high percentage (95%) of complete pain-free results and a stable and strong thumb in key pinches.

[Osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint in men: different stakes. Results of three surgical techniques]

Basal thumb arthritis is less common in men, but the functional implication is different in this manual worker or active retired population. The objective was to analyse the results of three surgical procedure in an exclusively men's population. Twenty-eight patients (19 partial trapeziectomy with interposition of a chondrocostal autograft, seven total trapeziectomy and two prosthesis), with a mean age of 69 years old, were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 71 months. Mobility and pain were similar in the three populations. But the strength and Dash scores were better in the cartilage group. Radiologically the length of the thumb ray was greater in the cartilage group and no signs of loosening were observed in the prosthesis group. The surgery of reference in this population is the arthrodesis of the trapeziometacarpal joint. But the lack of mobility is disabling, the strength is questionable and painlessness varies due to high rates of non-union. Only one study compared four surgical procedures in an exclusively male population and total trapeziectomy seemed to give the best results. But this technique carries risk of shortening of the thumb ray. Even if the comparison is difficult, the association of partial trapeziectomy with interposition of costal cartilage graft seems to give better stability to the thumb column by preserving length as well as greater strength compared to total trapeziectomy. We advocate this procedure for basal thumb arthritis in men.

A cemented surface replacement prosthesis in the basal thumb joint

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a cemented prosthesis (Avanta SR TMC prosthesis; Avanta Orthopaedics, San Diego, CA) of the basal thumb joint on the outcomes of range of motion, strength, pain, function, and loosening.

METHODS

Between July 2004 and December 2007, a total of 15 prostheses in 13 patients were implanted, with an average follow-up period of 36 months (range, 21-63 mo). Before and during the follow-up, the following scores were recorded: Kapandji-score (range of opposition), strength (hand dynamometer and pinch meter), pain (sequential occupational dexterity assessment [SODA], and Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire [MHQ]) and function (9-hole peg test, SODA and MHQ). Radiographs taken before and after surgery were reviewed.

RESULTS

The measurements of range of opposition and strength did not show any significant postoperative improvement. Pain during activities (SODA) decreased significantly, and the function with both hands (SODA and MHQ) improved significantly after surgery. The review of pre- and postoperative radiographs did not show any signs of implant loosening after surgery. One failure and one nerve injury occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

In this group of patients, the Avanta SR TMC prosthesis provided statistically significant improvements in function with both hands and in pain during activity, but no significant change in range of motion, strength, or in function of the operated hand used alone. Prosthesis loosening was not detected.

Surface replacement trapeziometacarpal joint arthroplasty--early results

This study reviews the results of Surface Replacement Trapeziometacarpal (SR TMC, Avanta, San Diego, CA) total joint arthroplasty. Fifty patients (62 joints) were included in the study. Forty-three patients (54 joints) were seen at final follow up. Seven patients (eight joints) were interviewed over the phone. Seven patients were revised to trapeziectomy and ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition, five for aseptic loosening and two for dislocation. At final follow up, the mean Quick DASH score was 30.4 and the Sollerman Score was 77.3. Radiological review of the surviving 55 joints showed subsidence of four trapezial components in asymptomatic patients. Cumulative survival rate was 91% at 3 years. Eighty-five percent of the patients were satisfied with the outcome of their treatment.

Surgery for thumb (trapeziometacarpal joint) osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2005. Surgery has been used to treat persistent pain and dysfunction at the base of the thumb. However, there is no evidence to suggest that any one surgical procedure is superior to another.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effect of different surgical techniques in reducing pain and improving physical function, patient global assessment, range of motion and strength in people with trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis at 12 months. Additionally, to investigate whether there was any improvement or deterioration in outcomes between the 12-month review and five year follow up.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched:(CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2008, issue 1), MEDLINE (1950 to Dec 2008), CINAHL (1982 to Dec 2008), AMED (1985 to Dec 2008) and EMBASE (1974 to Dec 2008), and performed handsearching of conference proceedings and reference lists from reviews and papers.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised or quasi-randomised trials where the intervention was surgery and pain, physical function, patient global assessment, range of motion or strength was measured as an outcome.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently selected studies according to the inclusion criteria, assessed the risk of bias and extracted data, including adverse effects. We contacted trial authors for missing information.

MAIN RESULTS

We included nine studies involving 477 participants. Seven surgical procedures were identified (trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI), trapeziectomy, trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction, trapeziectomy with interpositional arthroplasty, Artelon joint resurfacing, arthrodesis and joint replacement). Studies reported results of a mixed group of participants with Stage II-IV osteoarthritis, with a range of improvement for pain and physical function. The majority of studies included in this review had an unclear risk of bias which raises some doubt about the results. No procedure demonstrated any superiority over another in terms of pain, physical function, patient global assessment or range of motion. Of participants who underwent trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition, 22% had adverse effects (including scar tenderness, tendon adhesion or rupture, sensory change, or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (Type 1)) compared to 10% who underwent trapeziectomy. Trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition is therefore associated with 12% more adverse effects (RR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.18 to 4.15).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Although it appears that no one procedure produces greater benefit in terms of pain and physical function, there was insufficient evidence to be conclusive. Trapeziectomy has fewer complications than trapeziectomy with LRTI.