If you have thumb pain or thumb arthritis, you may have heard about joint replacement surgery. You might wonder if it really works. You might also wonder if it lasts.
A study looked at a special thumb joint replacement called the Rubis II prosthesis. The researchers followed 115 people for an average of 10 years. They wanted to see how well the replacement held up over time.
Here are three important things the study found:
- Most of the replacements were still working well after 10 years.
- Most people were happy with their results and had little or no pain.
- Their hand strength was similar to their other hand that was not operated on.
Key Findings at a Glance
- According to this study, 89% of thumb joint replacements were still working after 10 years.
- Research shows that 70% of patients had no pain at all after 10 years.
- Studies indicate that 98% of people were satisfied with their thumb replacement surgery.
- Patients regained hand strength that was similar to their other hand.
- Only 1% of the replacements had loosening problems over 10 years.
In this article:
- What Is a Thumb Joint Prosthesis?
- What Did This Study Find?
- How Long Did the Replacements Last?
- Did People Get Pain Relief?
- Did Hand Strength Get Better?
- Were There Any Problems?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- Disclaimer
- Study Citation
What Is a Thumb Joint Prosthesis?
Your thumb has a joint at the base where it meets your wrist. This joint is called the carpometacarpal joint. Sometimes this joint wears out and becomes painful. The medical name for this is rhizarthrosis or thumb arthritis.
The Rubis II is a type of reverse prosthesis. It is designed to take the place of the damaged joint. The goal is to reduce pain and help you use your thumb again.
Let us look closer at what the research found.
What Did This Study Find?
Between 1997 and 2008, doctors put 253 of these replacements into 199 patients. After many years, the researchers were able to check on 115 of those replacements. They wanted to see how people were doing after an average of 10 years.
Here is where it gets interesting. The doctors measured many different things. They checked for pain. They measured thumb movement. They tested hand strength. They also looked at X-rays to see if the replacement was still in place.
The researchers asked people to rate their own hand function using a special score called the QuickDASH. This is a questionnaire that asks about daily activities.
How Long Did the Replacements Last?
Research shows that 89% of the thumb replacements were still working after 10 years. This is called the survival rate. It means that for most people, the replacement stayed in place and kept working.
You may be wondering why this matters. When you think about having surgery, you want to know if it will last. A surgery that lasts 10 years or more can give you many years of better hand use.
Only one replacement out of 115 became loose over the 10 years. That is only 1%. This is a very good result.
Did People Get Pain Relief?
According to this study, 70% of people had no pain at all at the 10 year mark. The other 30% had some pain, but it was moderate or came and went. It was not constant or severe.
Most people were very happy. The satisfaction rate was 98%. This means that almost everyone who had the surgery was glad they did it.
| Result | Percentage |
|---|---|
| No pain | 70% |
| Some pain (moderate or occasional) | 30% |
| Patient satisfaction | 98% |
Pain relief is one of the most important goals of this surgery. These numbers show that most people got the relief they were hoping for.
Did Hand Strength Get Better?
The study measured three types of hand strength. These were wrist strength, key pinch, and tip pinch.
Studies indicate that after 10 years, people had hand strength that was about the same as their other hand. This is important because it shows that the surgery did not make the hand weaker. People could do everyday tasks with both hands.
The researchers also measured thumb movement. They used something called the Kapandji scale. The average score was 9 out of 10. This means people could move their thumbs well and touch different parts of their hand.
Were There Any Problems?
No surgery is perfect. The researchers were honest about the problems they saw.
Dislocations
Fifteen replacements had dislocations. That is 13%. A dislocation means the joint came out of place.
But here is an important detail. Twelve of those 15 dislocations happened because of an injury. The person fell or hurt their hand. Only three happened without an injury.
Loosening
According to this study, only one replacement became loose. That is less than 1%. When a replacement becomes loose, it may need to be fixed or replaced.
Revision Surgery
Eleven people needed a second surgery to fix a problem. This is called revision surgery. Some of these were to fix dislocations. Others were for different reasons.
Even with these problems, the overall results were very good.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a thumb joint replacement last?
Research shows that 89% of Rubis II thumb joint replacements were still working after an average of 10 years. This means most people got many years of use from their replacement.
Will I still have pain after thumb joint replacement?
According to this study, 70% of people had no pain at all after 10 years. The other 30% had some pain, but it was moderate or occasional, not constant.
Is thumb joint replacement better than trapeziectomy?
The study suggests that the Rubis II prosthesis is a useful alternative to trapeziectomy for selected patients. Your doctor can help you decide which option is best for you based on your specific situation.
Will my hand be as strong as my other hand?
Studies indicate that wrist, key pinch, and tip pinch strengths were comparable with the side that was not operated on. Most people regained strength similar to their other hand.
About This Site
This website simplifies medical science for people with thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. We use only published scientific articles from trusted medical journals. Our goal is to help you understand your options by breaking down complex research into simple language. We invite you to explore more articles on this site to learn about the latest studies on thumb arthritis and treatment options.
Conclusion
This study shows that the Rubis II thumb joint replacement can provide lasting relief for people with thumb arthritis. After 10 years, most people were happy, had little or no pain, and could use their hands well.
The results suggest that this type of surgery can be a good option for certain patients. It may be an alternative to other surgeries like trapeziectomy.
If you have thumb pain or thumb arthritis, talk with your doctor. Ask about all your options. This research can help you have an informed conversation about what might work best for you.
Remember, every person is different. What works for one person may not be right for another. Your doctor can help you decide.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. It does not replace the advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Always talk with a qualified medical professional before making decisions about your health or treatment.
Study Citation
Authors: Dehl, M.; Chelli, M.; Lippmann, S.; Benaissa, S.; Rotari, V.; Moughabghab, M.
Year: 2017
Publication: Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume)
Title: Results of 115 Rubis II reverse thumb carpometacarpal joint prostheses with a mean follow-up of 10 years
https://doi.org/10.1177/1753193416687508
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