Ligament reconstruction/tendon interposition arthroplasty for thumb basal joint osteoarthritis preliminary results of a prospective outcome study

Ligament reconstruction/tendon interposition arthroplasty (LRTIA) is a common procedure for basal joint osteoarthritis of the thumb. We evaluated 31 operations in 30 patients, 28 females, 2 males with a mean age of 57 years. The mean follow-up was 24 months (range 8 to 46 months). Pain reduction was 75% on average, with good preservation of motion and of first web space. Twenty-six patients were satisfied or very satisfied; five were not. The grip strength and key-pinch strength increased post-operatively, albeit not significantly.     

Abductor pollicis longus tendon interposition arthroplasty for carpometacarpal osteoarthritis of the thumb.

Thirty-eight thumbs in 35 patients with painful osteoarthritis of the thumb basal joint were treated by trapezium excision and abductor pollicis longus tendon interposition arthroplasty. Long-term results were obtained from all patients by subjective evaluation and 29 patients were re-examined 1 to 11 years after surgery (mean, 6 years). The overall result was excellent or good in 79% of the cases and 76% of the patients reported good or excellent pain relief. In 6 cases (16%) surgery provided no improvement. The range of shortening of the first ray was from 2 to 10 mm (mean, 7 mm). Grip and pinch strengths were measured, but the results were variable and consequently not informative. On the basis of our results we recommend abductor pollicis longus tendon interposition arthroplasty for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the thumb basal joint.     

Thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: arthrodesis compared with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition.

BACKGROUND: There has been considerable controversy regarding the procedure of choice for treatment of any given stage of osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint. This study was designed to directly compare the clinical results of two common surgical procedures for this condition, trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis and trapezial excision with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition, in similar patient populations. METHODS: Between 1988 and 1998, 109 patients (141 thumbs) who were less than sixty years old were treated with one of the two procedures. In a retrospective review, forty-two patients (fifty-eight thumbs) treated with arthrodesis completed an outcome questionnaire and twenty-nine patients (forty-four thumbs) treated with arthrodesis completed the questionnaire and were examined. In the group treated with trapezial excision with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition, thirty-nine patients (forty-nine thumbs) completed the questionnaire and thirty patients (thirty-eight thumbs) completed the questionnaire and were examined. The average duration of follow-up was sixty-nine months. The groups were similar with regard to age, gender, hand dominance, and duration of follow-up. RESULTS: Subjective evaluation of pain, function, and satisfaction demonstrated no significant difference between the two groups, with >90% of patients satisfied following either procedure. Although grip strength did not differ between the groups, the arthrodesis group had significantly stronger lateral pinch (p < 0.001) and chuck pinch (p < 0.01). The group treated with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition had a better range of motion with regard to opposition (p < 0.05) and the ability to flatten the hand (p < 0.0001). There was a higher complication rate in the arthrodesis group, with nonunion of the fusion site accounting for the majority of the complications. However, despite a persistent nonunion in six thumbs, those thumbs and the thumbs in which union was obtained did not differ with regard to pain; all of the patients with nonunion had improvement in their pain status compared with preoperatively, and all were very satisfied with the outcome. Peritrapezial arthritis developed in nine patients (fourteen thumbs). This finding was not related to age and did not affect overall pain, function, or satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Although traditionally arthrodesis and ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition have been indicated in two different patient populations, we compared them in a homogeneous group and found that the two procedures had similar results with regard to pain, function, and satisfaction despite minimal differences in strength and motion. Although complications were more frequent following arthrodesis, most did not affect the overall outcome.     

Ligament reconstruction tendon interposition with mersilene augmentation

Many surgical procedures have been described for the treatment of thumb basilar joint osteoarthritis. Augmentation of the standard ligament reconstruction tendon interposition procedure with the use of a Mersilene suture tape suspension-plasty, to recreate the stability provided by the anterior oblique ligament and increase pinch strength, will be described. Satisfaction with this procedure was evaluated through surveys completed by patients. In addition, independent physical assessments were performed to demonstrate stability, range of motion, and strength.     

Treatment of basal joint arthritis of the thumb: trapeziectomy with or without tendon interposition/ligament reconstruction.

This prospective study compared the outcome--subjective, objective and radiographic--of two surgical techniques for treating basal joint arthritis of the thumb: a "simple" trapeziectomy (group I) and a ligament reconstruction/tendon (group II) interposition technique. There were respectively 22 patients in group I and 34 in group II, all women with primary osteoarthritis. Both techniques gave favourable results and there were no significant differences for pain relief, patient satisfaction, mobility, DASH-score, key pinch force and gripping force. However in group II, the trapezial height was better preserved indicating that the proximal migration of the thumb was prevented or limited. There was also a significant correlation between the remaining trapezial space and key pinch force.     

Surgical management of basal joint arthritis of the thumb. Part II. Ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition arthroplasty

Palmar oblique ligament reconstruction combined with tendon interposition (LRTI) arthroplasty with part of the flexor carpi radialis tendon was developed for advanced osteoarthritis of the thumb basal joint. Twenty-five procedures are reviewed with an average follow-up of 2 years, ranging from 1 to 4 1/2 years. LRTI arthroplasty more consistently improved pinch strength, increased grip strength endurance, and restored thumb web space than did silicone implant arthroplasty. Proximal metacarpal migration averaged only 11% of the initial arthroplasty space versus nearly 50% loss of height with silicone implants. Subluxation averaged only 7% of the width of the thumb metacarpal base relative to the scaphoid versus subluxation of 35% of the base of the implant with silicone arthroplasty. Excellent results were achieved in 23 thumbs or 92% of cases. No deterioration of function or stability has been noted over time, and no revisional procedures have been necessary. On the basis of these encouraging early results, LRTI arthroplasty has become our preferred surgical treatment for advanced basal joint osteoarthritis of the thumb.     

A long-term follow-up of silicone-rubber interposition arthroplasty for osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint.

There are several surgical options for osteoarthritis (OA) of the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. This paper presents our long-term clinical and radiographic review of 12 thumbs in ten patients treated by partial trapezial excision and silicone-rubber interposition arthroplasty. The follow-up period averaged 15; three years with a ten-year minimum. Although the procedure provided early pain relief in most thumbs, all but two had mild to severe pain at follow-up. The average range of post-operative palmar abduction was 23 degrees. The average post-operative grip strength was 9.5 kg. Both tip and key pinch between thumb and index finger averaged about 50% that of normal subjects. Dislocation of the implant occurred in two joints and breakages in five. Bony erosions around the implant, which we attributed silicone synovitis, were found in four thumbs. The indications for silicone-rubber interposition arthroplasty for OA of the thumb CMC joint should be severely restricted as these produced unsatisfactory long-term results.     

Comparative study between trapezium resection and tendon interposition with and without ligamentplasty in the management of carpometacarpal arthrosis of the thumb

Purpose

Treating arthrosis in the base of the thumb has been a highly controverted subject. Many surgeries have been described, such as the isolated trapezium resection; resection with interposition with and without ligament plasty; arthrodesis, and arthroplasties. The purpose of this paper is to compare the two techniques which are currently the most used in this treatment.

Methods

A prospective study has been made to compare the surgical results between the trapezium resection with tendon interposition (tenoarthroplasty) — 22 cases — and tenoarthroplasty associated to ligament plasty—24 cases. Objective evaluation was done by measuring opponence, movements of the metacarpophalangeal joint, pinch and grasp strength, radiographic measurement of the distance between the base of first metacarpal and the scaphoid, and measurement of the angle between the first and the second metacarpals. Subjective evaluation was done with a DASH questionnaire, visual analog scale to evaluate pain and patient satisfaction.

Results and conclusion

After application of the criteria described and using Student ‘t’ tests for statistical analysis, the authors concluded that the ligament reconstruction has no advantage over the simple resection and tendon interposition in carpometacarpal arthrosis of the thumb.     

Dynamic stabilization home exercise program for treatment of thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: A prospective randomized control trial

Study DesignRandomized control trial.IntroductionThumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of hand pain and disability. Standard conservative therapy (SCT) for thumb CMC OA includes an orthosis and instruction in joint protection, adaptive equipment, and pain relieving modalities. The dynamic stability home exercise (HE) program is complementary conservative therapy designed to strengthen the stabilizing muscles of the thumb CMC.Purpose of the StudyTo investigate whether the addition of HE to SCT (SCT+HE) was more effective at reducing pain and disability in thumb CMC OA compared to SCT alone.MethodsThe study compared 2 groups: SCT and SCT+HE. The SCT group received SCT with in-home pain management instructions, joint protection strategies with adaptive equipment, and a hand-based thumb-spica orthosis. The SCT+HE group received HE program instructions for adductor stretching and opponens and first dorsal interosseous strengthening in addition to SCT. Our primary outcome measure was the numerical rating scale (NRS) with secondary outcome measures of QuickDASH (shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire), range of motion, grip strength, and pinch strength. Outcome measurements were assessed at first visit, 6 weeks, and 6 months.ResultsThere was no statistical difference between the 2 groups for NRS and QuickDASH at 6 weeks (P = .28 and P = .36, respectively) or 6 months (P = .52 and P = .97, respectively). However, there was a statistically significant decrease in NRS and QuickDASH scores at 6 weeks and 6 months within both groups.ConclusionsBoth SCT and SCT+HE are effective at reducing pain and disability in OA of the thumb CMC joint. Neither therapy program was superior to the other at improving NRS or QuickDASH scores at 6-week or 6-month follow-up.     

Ligament reconstruction tendon interposition arthroplasty for basal joint arthritis: simplifying flexor carpi radialis tendon passage through the thumb metacarpal

During the ligament reconstruction tendon interposition arthroplasty for basal joint arthritis, the flexor carpi radialis tendon is passed through the base of the thumb and out an exit hole on its dorsum. When the entire width of the tendon is harvested, this aspect of the procedure can be difficult. Tapering the width of the proximal tendon and using a Carroll tendon retriever simplify the procedure and eliminate the need for enlarging the transosseous hole in the thumb metacarpal.     

Biomechanic analysis of trapeziectomy, ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition, and tie-in trapezium implant arthroplasty for thumb carpometacarpal arthritis: a cadaver study

PURPOSE: Thumb carpometacarpal joint arthritis has been commonly treated with some combination of resection of the trapezium and interposition of a spacer using either a biologic or artificial material plus tenodesis to reconstruct the volar oblique ligament. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biomechanic stability of the classic ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition (LRTI) or without tendon interposition compared with a newly developed 1-piece silicone trapezium implant. METHODS: Twelve cadaver arm specimens had the following procedures: resection of the trapezium, tendon interposition, ligament reconstruction, LRTI, and the silicone implant. Biomechanic testing of joint stability was performed with a physiologic loading protocol before and after each procedure. RESULTS: The implant significantly corrected the axial displacement after trapeziectomy and resulted in less radial displacement than LRTI. It significantly reduced angulation of the thumb metacarpal base but resulted in more rotation of the thumb during simulated pinch. There was no significant difference in stability measures between trapeziectomy and LRTI or ligament reconstruction without tendon interposition. CONCLUSIONS: We found several biomechanic advantages to the implant compared with LRTI. Advantages include reduction in axial and radial displacement and maintenance of the trapezial space. We attribute these advantages to the effect of the implant as a spacer. The significant rotation with the implant, however, raises questions concerning implant design and fixation. We found no biomechanic advantage to LRTI or ligament reconstruction without tendon interposition over trapeziectomy alone.     

A comparison of trapeziectomy with and without ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition

Forty-three patients were randomly allocated to undergo either trapeziectomy alone (control) or with a ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI) using an abductor pollicis longus tendon slip. The patients were reviewed at a median 13 (range, 7-29) months after surgery. The demographic characteristics, severity of disease and pre-operative clinical measurements of the two study groups were indistinguishable but LRTI lengthened the operation by approximately 15 minutes. Both groups expressed equal satisfaction with the operation and there were no significant differences between the two treatment groups. Simple trapeziectomy is an effective operation for osteoarthrosis at the base of the thumb and the addition of a ligament reconstruction was not shown to confer any additional benefit.     

Clinical effects of proprioceptive thumb exercise for individuals with carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial

Study DesignRandomized Control Trial.IntroductionThumb CMC joint OA is a common diagnosis. Currently there is no evidence available to under if proprioceptive neuromuscular training is an effective intervention for this population.Purpose of the studyTo establish the effectiveness of a proprioceptive training program as a complementary therapy for patients with thumb CMC joint OA.MethodsStandard conservative thumb CMC joint OA treatments were received by both the control (n = 26) and experimental groups (n = 26) for a period of 12 weeks. The experimental group received a proprioceptive training program during the same intervention period. Outcome measures included severity of pain with activity according to the numerical rating scale (NRS), QuickDASH, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and proprioception via joint position sense (JPS).ResultsFifty-two females participated in the study. Both the experimental and control group made both clinically and statistically significant changes in the mean VAS and COPM scores over time. Only the experimental group achieved a statistically and clinically significant change in JPS error score over time.DiscussionExperimental group achieved a statistically significant change in JPS over time in concordance with previous investigations. Changes in pain scores differed from prior investigations and the between-group comparison was not statistically significant. Changes in the Quick DASH was similar to previous findings.ConclusionProprioceptive training in addition to a traditional rehabilitation program decreased error scores on the joint position sense test.     

Suspensionplasty with the abductor pollicis longus tendon for osteoarthritis in the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb

PURPOSE: Many surgical procedures have been described for treating painful osteoarthritis at the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb. This article reports our clinical and radiographic results in performing suspensionplasty using the abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendon without tendon interposition after a complete trapeziectomy for patients with painful osteoarthritis in the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb. METHODS: Eighteen patients (2 men, 16 women), including 21 thumbs with advanced arthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint, who were treated by suspensionplasty using the APL tendon after a complete trapeziectomy were evaluated both clinically and radiographically. Ten thumbs were classified as stage III and 11 were classified as stage IV (Eaton's classification). The average follow-up period was 33.3 months. RESULTS: All patients (18 patients, 21 thumbs) reported pain with daily use before surgery; after surgery 13 of the 21 thumbs had no pain, 5 thumbs had mild pain with strenuous activity, and the remaining 3 thumbs had mild pain with light work. At the final follow-up evaluation the radial and palmar abductions each were 56 degrees +/- 9 degrees and 56 degrees +/- 6 degrees. The grip and key-pinch strengths were 16 +/- 6 kg and 4 +/- 1 kg, respectively. The first metacarpal subsidence at rest was 15% and the additional subsidence when performing a 2-kg key pinch was 6% in the final follow-up radiographic findings. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the APL suspensionplasty has a favorable outcome for painful osteoarthritis in the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb and that the APL tendon can be removed as a deforming force without any abduction weakness. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level IV.     

Bilateral arthroscopic tendon interposition arthroplasty of the thumb carpometacarpal joint in a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a case report

A common finding in progressive osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is ligamentous laxity. In patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which is a disorder characterized by generalized ligamentous laxity, splinting and arthrodesis have been recommended because of the random results achieved by other reconstructive procedures. We report a patient with thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis secondary to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome who was treated with bilateral arthroscopic tendon interposition arthroplasty.     

Joint distraction for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: a feasibility study with 1-year follow-up

Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of joint distraction of the first carpometacarpal (CMC1) joint in patients with CMC1 osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: An external joint distractor was placed over the CMC1 joint by K-wire fixation in the trapezium and the metacarpal. The joint was distracted 3?mm during surgery. The device was then kept in place for 8 weeks. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire (MHQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and grip strength were recorded preoperatively and at set postoperative intervals.

Results: Five female patients with an average age of 53 years (range?=?41–61) were included. One year postoperatively, average DASH, MHQ, and VAS scores improved compared to preoperative values; DASH 53 to 27, MHQ 48 to 76, and VAS pain 48 to 14. There were no technical problems associated with the device. One patient had a local pin site infection treated successfully with oral antibiotics.

Conclusions: This study concludes that joint distraction of the osteoarthritic CMC1 joint is technically feasible. In this small, prospective pilot study the majority of the results were favourable during short-term follow-up.