Thumb Basal Joint Arthritis
     Thumb basal arthritis, or carpometacarpal (CMC) arthritis, is usually related to wear and tear in the basal joint of the thumb. This can cause pain at the base of the thumb, especially with pinch and gripping. It is very common in women over 50 years of age, and usually due to osteoarthritis.

        
        Xray of arthritic thumb and picture of custom thumb splint
     
     Treatment involves over the counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or naprosyn. Cortisone injections can used and a thumb splint can help, usually fitted by a hand therapist. For patients that have continued pain, surgical reconstruction can be an excellent option. The procedures have many names, such as LRTI (ligament reconstruction tendon interposition), TMC or CMC reconstruction, carpometacarpal arthroplasty, anchovy procedure, and basal joint arthroplasty among others. They are mostly a variation on the same procedure: trapezium bone excision and tendon transfer.
     I use a minimally invasive procedure that can reduce pain and recovery time. I use a 1 inch incision (verses several incisions), and perform the trapezium excision and tendon transfer through this. Due to the smaller surgical exposure I feel there is a faster recovery and return to activities.

                                           
                         Incision for minimally invasive reconstrucion

For appointments call  925-939-8585
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