24 papers · updated 2026-09-26 · Hand & Upper Extremity · All topics
The newest papers on thumb basal joint arthritis from the orthopaedic journals The Reduction reads, newest first, each with a one-line summary. The list is drawn from the digest’s archive and refreshed every week.
Get new Hand & Upper Extremity papers by email, free: subscribe to The Reduction, focused on your interests, on the days you pick.
In thumb CMC arthritis with MCP hyperextension, arthrodesis reliably corrected the hyperextension deformity while trapeziectomy did not, though functional score differences between procedures were not significant after adjustment.
Polyethylene Liner Fracture in Touch Trapeziometacarpal Prosthesis: A Case Report.
Polyethylene liner fracture in trapeziometacarpal prosthesis can occur without symptoms; regular imaging surveillance enables early detection and salvage before severe dysfunction.
In thumb CMC osteoarthritis, orthotic use improved pain and function at 3 months, but longer daily wear time was not independently associated with greater pain reduction.
CMC denervation had significantly lower 2-year reoperation rates than trapeziectomy, suggesting it deserves earlier consideration in the surgical treatment algorithm for thumb basal arthritis.
4D CT imaging in 6 patients showed that Wilson osteotomy with Brunelli ligamentoplasty for thumb CMC osteoarthritis increased rather than reduced palmar joint contact, suggesting a stabilizing rather than unloading effect.
CUSUM analysis of a single surgeon's dual-mobility trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty series showed surgical efficiency plateaued after ~28 cases, but technique-related complications persisted, indicating efficiency does not equal technical mastery despite good 2-year outcomes.
An international survey of 208 hand surgeons found thumb CMC instability is inconsistently defined and managed, prompting a call to standardize terminology and treatment.
Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Revision Thumb CMC Arthroplasty.
A retrospective review found 95% of patients undergoing revision thumb CMC arthroplasty had a change in surgical technique, with trapezoid excision performed twice as often at revision, highlighting adjacent joint issues in failed arthroplasties.
In over 33,000 matched patients, regional nerve blocks for thumb CMC arthroplasty raised costs without reducing early ED visits or opioid prescriptions, questioning their routine use.
In a multicenter study of 119 thumb CMC arthroplasties, 83% of patients were satisfied and most had rapid pain resolution, but anesthesia-related discomfort was a key dissatisfaction driver worth addressing in perioperative pathways.
This retrospective case series found suture-button stabilization for thumb CMC instability/dislocation reliably restored stability, relieved pain, and enabled early return to function with low complication rates.
At 5 years after dual-mobility trapeziometacarpal joint arthroplasty, 93% of patients were satisfied, with lower pain and better hand function (not baseline factors or complications) driving satisfaction, alongside 96% implant survival.
Moovis press-fit trapeziometacarpal arthroplasties achieve stable cup fixation, high patient satisfaction, and 98% nine-year implant survival, favoring their use in thumb arthritis.
Trapeziometacarpal joint arthroplasty: avoiding imbalance and optimizing outcomes.
This review explains how thumb CMC osteoarthritis progression causes the classic Z-deformity and shows that modern dual-mobility trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty reliably restores balance and stability with durable outcomes.
Preoperative intra-articular steroid injections did not affect radiological or clinical outcomes of either LRTI arthroplasty or arthrodesis for thumb CMC osteoarthritis, supporting both procedures as viable options after steroid use.
Baseline pain severity, higher outcome expectations, and improved grip strength predicted better pain outcomes after thumb basal joint osteoarthritis nonoperative treatment.
Management of Acute and Chronic Thumb CMC Joint Dislocations.
This review outlines diagnosis and treatment options—from closed reduction to ligament reconstruction—for acute and chronic thumb CMC joint dislocations, emphasizing timely management for stable outcomes.
Joint Preserving Treatments for Thumb CMC Arthritis.
This review discusses joint-preserving techniques as alternatives to trapeziectomy for early-stage thumb CMC osteoarthritis to relieve pain and delay more invasive surgery.
Revision Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty.
Reviews causes and outcomes of failed thumb CMC arthroplasty, noting revision surgery improves pain and instability but carries higher complication rates and lower satisfaction than primary surgery.
Management of thumb MCP hyperextension and scaphotrapezial arthritis in basilar thumb OA requires addressing compensatory deformities alongside primary trapeziometacarpal pathology.
Thumb Carpometacarpal Implant Arthroplasty.
Thumb CMC implant arthroplasty—total prosthesis or pyrocarbon—offers reliable medium-to-long-term pain relief and function as a viable alternative to trapeziectomy.
Thumb Carpometacarpal Instability.
This review covers thumb CMC joint anatomy, evaluation, and nonoperative/operative treatment options—including ligament repair, reconstruction, and arthroscopy—for instability without fracture or arthritis.
Pyrocarbon interpositional arthroplasty after partial trapeziectomy provides durable pain relief and satisfaction at 9.5 years but offers no functional advantage over simpler trapeziectomy techniques.
Functional outcomes after surgery for thumb carpometacarpal joint arthritis.
Functional outcome assessment for thumb carpometacarpal arthritis requires standardized measures; current scores may lack sensitivity for arthroplasty results.
Ligament Reconstruction for the Painful Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint
In 18 patients, ligament reconstruction for painful thumb CMC joint instability yielded better strength, mobility, and pain relief when performed before significant articular degeneration.
Classic description of ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition arthroplasty for thumb basal joint arthritis, a foundational reference for CMC surgical technique.
Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis
A 1987 Hand Clinics article addressing trapeziometacarpal (thumb basal joint) osteoarthritis.
Ligament reconstruction for the painful thumb carpometacarpal joint: A long-term assessment
Long-term assessment confirming ligament reconstruction for painful thumb CMC joint provides durable relief, a key reference for surgical decision-making in basal joint arthritis.
In a randomized trial of 183 thumbs, adding tendon interposition or ligament reconstruction to trapeziectomy provided no additional benefit over simple trapeziectomy at 1 year.
Home · All topics · Archive · Subscribe · FAQ
© 2026 The Reduction