If you have thumb pain at the base of your thumb, you may have heard about surgery. You may wonder whether putting an artificial joint in your thumb actually works. You may also wonder if it lasts.
This article looks at a study that followed 191 people who got a special thumb implant called the MAIA prosthesis. The researchers wanted to see how well these implants worked over many years.
Here are three important things you should know:
- The implants lasted a long time in most people.
- Most people had much less pain after surgery.
- Some problems can happen, but they are not very common.
Key Findings at a Glance
- According to this study, 88% of the implants were still working after 12 years.
- Research shows that pain dropped to a median score of 1 out of 10 after surgery.
- Studies indicate that 9% of patients had major complications that needed attention.
- The risk of the implant slipping out of place was highest in the first 3 years.
- Most dislocations happened when the implant was not positioned correctly during surgery.
In this article
What is rhizarthrosis and why does it hurt?
Your thumb has a special joint at its base. This joint is called the trapeziometacarpal joint. That is a big word. Doctors often just call it the CMC joint or thumb base joint.
This joint lets you move your thumb in many directions. It helps you pinch and grip. When this joint wears out, simple tasks become hard. Opening jars hurts. Turning keys hurts. Writing hurts.
You may be wondering why this matters. Because this kind of arthritis is very common. It often affects people as they get older. Many people try medicine and hand therapy first. But sometimes the pain does not go away. Surgery may then become an option.
What did this study show?
According to research published in the Journal of Hand Surgery European Volume, doctors followed 191 people who got the MAIA thumb implant between 2001 and 2016. The implant is a small artificial joint. It replaces the worn out joint at the base of the thumb.
The study was done at one hospital in France. The doctors checked on their patients for a long time. The average follow up time was 12 years. Some patients were checked for as short as 17 days. Others were followed for as long as 140 months. That is almost 12 years.
Here is where it gets interesting. The doctors wanted to see how many implants were still working at the end of the study. They also wanted to know if patients felt better. They measured pain. They measured how well people could use their hands.
How long do these implants last?
Research shows that 88% of the implants were still in place and working at the final check up. This is called the survival rate. It means that out of 100 people who got the implant, 88 still had a working implant many years later.
That is a good number. It tells us that most of these implants last a long time. Only 12 out of 100 people needed another surgery or had their implant removed.
Let us look closer. The doctors found that most problems happened in the first three years after surgery. After that, the implants usually stayed in place and kept working well.
How much pain relief can you expect?
Studies indicate that pain dropped a lot after surgery. The median pain score was 1 out of 10. Median means the middle number. Half of the patients had even less pain than that. Half had a tiny bit more.
The doctors also used a test called the QuickDASH score. This test asks questions about daily activities. It measures how much your hand problem affects your life. The median QuickDASH score was 20. A lower score is better. A score of 20 means the hand works pretty well for most tasks.
This is good news. It means most people felt much better after getting the implant. They could use their thumbs again without a lot of pain.
What problems can happen?
No surgery is perfect. According to this study, 9% of patients had major complications. That means 9 out of every 100 people had a serious problem.
The study found two main types of problems:
- Dislocation: This happened in 5% of patients. Dislocation means the implant slipped out of place. When this happened, patients needed another surgery to fix it.
- Loosening: This happened in 4% of patients. Loosening means the implant became wobbly. It did not stay firmly attached to the bone.
You may be wondering why these problems happen. The researchers found something important. Most dislocations happened when the implant was not put in the right position during the first surgery. If the trapezium implant was not placed correctly, it was more likely to slip later.
The good news is that the risk of dislocation was highest in the first three years. After that, if the implant stayed in place, it usually kept working well.
Common questions answered
Is the MAIA implant a good choice for thumb arthritis?
According to this study, the MAIA trapeziometacarpal prosthesis represents a long term solution for surgical treatment of thumb rhizarthrosis. Research shows that 88% of implants were still working after 12 years. Most patients had much less pain and could use their hands better.
What are the chances something will go wrong?
Studies indicate that 9% of patients had major complications. This included 5% who had dislocations and 4% who had loosening. All patients who had a dislocation needed another surgery to fix the problem. Most complications happened in the first three years.
How much will my pain improve?
Research shows that the median pain score after surgery was 1 out of 10. This means most people had almost no pain after they healed. Before surgery, people with thumb arthritis often have pain scores of 7, 8, or even 10 out of 10.
Who is a good candidate for this surgery?
The study looked at people who tried medical treatment first and it did not work. Medical treatment means things like pain medicine, splints, and hand therapy. When these things do not help enough, surgery may be an option. Your doctor will help you decide if an implant is right for you.
About this site
This website simplifies medical science for people with thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. We read the published scientific articles so you do not have to. We explain what researchers have found using simple language. Every article we write is based only on real medical studies. We invite you to explore more content on this site. You can learn about different treatments, surgery options, and ways to manage your thumb pain.
What this means for you
If you have thumb arthritis that does not get better with medicine or therapy, you have options. The MAIA thumb implant is one choice. This study shows that it works well for most people over many years.
Most people get a lot of pain relief. Most implants last a long time. Problems can happen, but they are not very common. The most important thing is that the implant is put in the right position during surgery.
Talk with your doctor. Ask questions. Learn about all your options. This study gives you good information to help you make the best choice for your thumb.
Important information
This article is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. It does not replace talking with your doctor. Every person is different. Your doctor knows your health history. Your doctor can tell you which treatment is best for you. Always talk with your doctor before making decisions about surgery or treatment.
Scientific source
This article is based on research by Chiche, L., Chammas, P. E., Vial D’Allais, P., Lazerges, C., Coulet, B., and Chammas, M., published in the Journal of Hand Surgery European Volume in 2023.
Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1177/17531934221136442
Ready to plan your recovery? Start with the evidence-based week-by-week rehabilitation timeline.
Recovery Guide
