Interposition arthroplasty using trapezium tendon ball for osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb

Carpometacarpal (CM) joint arthroplasty of the thumb using a trapezium tendon ball was performed in 11 hands of 9 patients with osteoarthritis. After a total dissection of the trapezium, the palmaris longus was wrapped around the trapezium, with the surfaces of both the CM joint and the scaphotrapezial joint tightly covered. Grafted trapezium was repositioned, and a congruency of the CM joint was confirmed. All patients were relieved from pain, with the radial abduction angle, grip strength, and the pinch strength increased 5 years after surgery. Radiographically, the mean width of the CM joint space increased, and a central migration of the first metacarpal bone was not found. This procedure would be available for the osteoarthritis in both the CM joint and the scaphotrapezial joint.