If you have thumb pain from arthritis at the base of your thumb, you may have noticed that your thumb bends backwards more than it used to. This can make it harder to grip things. You might be wondering which type of surgery can help fix this problem.
This article looks at a study that compared two different surgeries for thumb arthritis. The study wanted to know which surgery is better at stopping your thumb from bending backwards. It also looked at which surgery helps you grip things more strongly.
Here are three important things the researchers discovered:
- A thumb implant works better than removing bone to stop your thumb from bending backwards.
- People who got the implant had stronger pinch strength after surgery.
- When your thumb stays bent backwards after surgery, your hand stays weaker.
Key Findings at a Glance
- Research shows that trapeziometacarpal prosthesis (a thumb implant) provides better control of thumb bending backwards than trapeziectomy (removing bone).
- According to this study, patients with thumb implants had significantly stronger pinch strength, especially when they started with thumb hyperextension.
- Studies indicate that thumb height loss during surgery is directly connected to how much the thumb bends backwards.
- Medical evidence shows that when the thumb still bends too far back after surgery, grip strength and pinch strength remain weaker.
- Researchers found that thumb implants may help avoid needing a second surgery on the thumb knuckle joint.
What Is Thumb Hyperextension?
Let us start with what happens to your thumb when you have arthritis at the base.
When the joint at the base of your thumb wears down from arthritis, your thumb can get shorter. This shortening makes the middle joint of your thumb bend backwards to try to make up for the lost length. Your body is trying to help, but this backwards bending actually makes it harder to pinch and grip things.
You may be wondering why this matters so much.
When your thumb bends backwards, you lose power. It becomes harder to hold a pen, open a jar, or button your shirt. This is why doctors look carefully at how much your thumb bends backwards when they plan your surgery.
What the Study Looked At
Researchers studied 69 people who had surgery for thumb arthritis. Some got one type of surgery and some got another type.
The Two Types of Surgery
Here is where it gets interesting. The study compared two common surgeries.
The researchers wanted to know which surgery worked better to stop the thumb from bending backwards. They also measured how strong people could pinch after each surgery.
What They Measured
According to this study, the researchers checked several things:
- How much pain people felt
- How far the thumb joint could move
- How much the thumb bent backwards
- How strong their grip was
- How strong their pinch was
- How much the thumb height changed on x-rays
They followed people for an average of 20 months after surgery. That is almost two years.
What Did the Researchers Find?
Let us look closer at what the numbers showed.
Stopping Backwards Bending
Research shows that the implant surgery worked much better at stopping the thumb from bending backwards. This was true for everyone, but it was especially helpful for people whose thumbs bent backwards more than 30 degrees before surgery.
Think of 30 degrees like the angle your thumb makes when it really bends back too far. People with this much bending got the most help from the implant.
Pinch Strength Results
Studies indicate that people who got the implant could pinch more strongly after surgery. This was true for everyone who started with a thumb that bent backwards too much.
Why does this happen? The implant keeps the thumb at the right length. When your thumb stays the right length, the middle joint does not need to bend backwards. This means you can use your thumb strength the right way.
The Connection to Weakness
Medical evidence shows something important. People whose thumbs still bent backwards after surgery stayed weaker. They had lower grip strength and lower pinch strength compared to people whose thumbs stayed straight.
This tells us that fixing the backwards bending really matters for getting your strength back.
Why Does Thumb Length Matter?
You might be asking yourself why doctors care so much about thumb length.
According to this study, when you lose thumb height during surgery, your thumb is more likely to bend backwards. The x-rays showed a clear connection. Shorter thumbs after surgery meant more backwards bending.
The implant surgery does a better job keeping your thumb the right length. The bone removal surgery makes the thumb shorter because you take out a bone and do not replace it with something the same size.
When your thumb gets shorter, your hand tries to make up for it by bending the middle joint backwards. This creates the problem we have been talking about.
Which Surgery Should You Choose?
Research shows that the implant surgery may be a better choice if your thumb already bends backwards before surgery.
The study found that the implant gives you two benefits:
- It stops your thumb from bending backwards by keeping it the right length
- It helps you avoid needing another surgery on your thumb knuckle later
Sometimes when the backwards bending gets really bad after the bone removal surgery, people need another operation to fix the middle joint. The implant may help you avoid this.
Who Benefits Most?
According to medical evidence, people who benefit most from the implant surgery are those who have thumb arthritis and their thumb already bends backwards too much. If your doctor measures your thumb and it bends back more than normal, an implant might work better for you than removing the bone.
Our website helps people with thumb pain and rhizarthrosis understand medical science in simple language. We read published scientific articles from medical journals and explain what they mean for you. Every article on this site comes from real research done by doctors and scientists. We invite you to explore more content to learn about your treatment options, what causes thumb arthritis, and how to manage your symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when my thumb bends backwards?
When your thumb bends backwards at the middle knuckle, it means that joint is hyperextending. This usually happens because the joint at the base of your thumb has worn down from arthritis. Your thumb gets shorter and the middle joint bends back to try to make up for it. This makes it harder to grip and pinch things.
Which surgery is better for thumb arthritis?
According to this study, if your thumb bends backwards too much, an implant surgery works better than removing the bone. The implant keeps your thumb the right length and stops it from bending backwards. This helps you keep more strength in your hand. Your doctor can help you decide which surgery is right for your specific situation.
Will my thumb be stronger after surgery?
Research shows that your thumb strength depends partly on whether your thumb still bends backwards after surgery. People whose thumbs stayed straight after surgery had better grip and pinch strength. The implant surgery helps more people keep their thumb straight, which leads to better strength.
How long does it take to recover from thumb surgery?
The study followed people for an average of 20 months after surgery. This means they checked on people for almost two years. Recovery time varies for each person, but this shows that doctors watch your progress for a long time to make sure you are healing well.
Conclusion
This study shows us something important about thumb arthritis surgery. When your thumb bends backwards too much, an implant works better than removing bone. The implant keeps your thumb the right length and stops the backwards bending. This helps you grip and pinch more strongly.
If you have thumb arthritis and you notice your thumb bending backwards at the knuckle, talk to your doctor about which surgery might work best for you. The implant might help you avoid the problems that come with a thumb that stays bent backwards.
Remember that every person is different. Your doctor will look at your specific thumb, how much it bends, and what activities matter most to you. Together you can make the best choice for your hand.
Disclaimer
This article shares information from medical research to help you learn about thumb arthritis and surgery options. It is not medical advice. It does not replace talking to your doctor. Every person’s situation is different. Always talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your symptoms and treatment choices. Only your doctor can examine you and recommend what is right for you.
Research Citation
Study by: Degeorge, B.; Dagneaux, L.; Andrin, J.; Lazerges, C.; Coulet, B.; Chammas, M. (2018)
Published in: Orthop Traumatol Surg Res
Read the full study:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otsr.2018.07.008
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