If you have thumb pain that does not go away, you might have heard the word rhizarthrosis. This is a type of arthritis that happens at the base of your thumb. It can make simple tasks very hard. You may wonder if surgery can help.
Research shows that a special implant called the Touch® prosthesis can bring relief. A recent study followed 48 patients for two years after surgery. The results are very promising. Here is what they found.
Key Findings at a Glance
- 91.1% of patients were satisfied with the surgery after two years.
- Pain levels dropped from an average of 4.45 points to just 1.2 points.
- No dislocations or loosening of the implant occurred in any patient.
- All patients regained full thumb movement and opposition after surgery.
- The Touch® prosthesis uses a special dual mobility design that helps prevent problems.
In this article:
- What is rhizarthrosis?
- What did the study do?
- What were the results?
- What makes this implant different?
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
- Disclaimer
- Article citation
What is rhizarthrosis?
This condition affects mostly women. The thumb becomes stiff and weak. Opening jars, turning keys, or holding a cup can hurt a lot. When rest and medicine do not work anymore, surgery may be the next step.
You may be wondering why this matters. Because the base of your thumb is so important for gripping and pinching, losing its function affects almost everything you do with your hand.
What did the study do?
According to this study, doctors placed 56 Touch® prostheses in 48 patients. Some patients needed surgery on both thumbs. The group had 41 women and 7 men. The average age was 62 years old.
All patients tried non-surgical treatments first. These treatments did not help enough. They all had moderate to severe arthritis. The doctors used a system called the Eaton-Littler classification to measure how bad the arthritis was. All patients were in stages II through IV, which means the damage was serious.
The doctors checked the patients before surgery and then at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. They measured pain, function, and movement. They used something called the DASH questionnaire. This is a simple form that asks how much pain you have and how well your hand works.
Let us look closer at what they discovered.
What were the results?
Research shows that after 24 months, most patients were very happy. Here is a breakdown of what happened.
How many patients were satisfied?
Studies indicate that 91.1% of patients, which is 51 people out of 56 surgeries, were satisfied with the outcome. Only 5 patients had minor problems. These problems included pain during exercise, some stiffness, or a feeling of weakness in the hand. Even with these issues, the results were still much better than before surgery.
Did any implants fail?
According to medical evidence from this study, no implant came loose. No implant moved out of place. This is called dislocation, and it can be a big problem with joint replacements. But in this group, it did not happen even once.
Here is where it gets interesting. All wounds healed normally. No patient had an infection, not even a small one on the surface of the skin.
How much did pain improve?
The pain scores tell an important story. Before surgery, patients rated their pain using question 24 of the DASH questionnaire. The average score was 4.45 points out of 5. That means most patients had very strong pain. After two years, the average dropped to just 1.2 points. That is a huge change.
| Time | Average Pain Score |
|---|---|
| Before surgery | 4.45 |
| After 2 years | 1.2 |
Did hand function improve?
The overall DASH score also dropped a lot. Before surgery, the average score was 65.3 points. A high score means poor function. After two years, the score fell to 10.8 points. That means patients could do much more with their hands and had much less trouble with daily tasks.
All patients were able to touch their thumb to all their fingers. Doctors measure this using something called the Kapandji score. After surgery, everyone had full opposition. That means you can touch your thumb tip to your pinky tip without trouble.
What makes this implant different?
The Touch® prosthesis has a special feature called dual mobility. This means the implant can move in two places instead of just one. Think of it like a ball inside another ball. This design gives the thumb more natural movement and also helps keep the implant stable.
According to this study, the Touch® prosthesis is considered a third generation thumb implant. Older designs had more problems with the implant moving out of place. The dual mobility feature appears to solve this problem very well.
Many surgical options exist for rhizarthrosis. Some doctors remove part of the bone and use a tendon to fill the space. Others fuse the joint so it does not move at all. Each method has benefits and drawbacks. Total joint replacement with an implant like the Touch® prosthesis is one option that tries to keep the joint moving naturally.
Frequently asked questions
How long does recovery take after this surgery?
According to this study, patients were checked at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. The biggest improvements in pain and function happened within the first few months. Full recovery and the best results were seen at the 2 year mark.
Will I need another surgery later?
Research shows that in this group of 56 surgeries, no implant needed to be replaced or removed during the 2 year follow up period. However, this study only looked at short term results. Longer studies are needed to know how the implant holds up over 5 or 10 years.
Who is a good candidate for this surgery?
Studies indicate that this surgery is for people who have tried other treatments first without success. In this study, all patients had moderate to severe arthritis in the thumb joint. Your doctor will check your X-rays and your symptoms to decide if this surgery is right for you.
Is this surgery risky?
According to medical evidence from this study, the surgery was very safe. All wounds healed without infection. No implants dislocated or came loose. A small number of patients had minor ongoing symptoms like exercise related pain or mild weakness, but serious complications did not happen in this group.
Conclusion
If you have severe thumb pain from rhizarthrosis and other treatments have not worked, the Touch® prosthesis may be worth talking about with your doctor. Research shows that this implant gives very good results in the first two years after surgery. Most patients feel much less pain and can use their hands much better.
The dual mobility design seems to prevent the common problem of dislocation. No infections or serious problems happened in this study group. That is reassuring.
Of course, every person is different. Your own health, the stage of your arthritis, and your goals all matter. Talk openly with your hand surgeon about all your options. Ask questions. Make sure you understand what to expect.
You deserve relief. You deserve to open jars, turn keys, and hold your loved ones without wincing. This research gives hope that modern implants can help you get back to living.
About this site
This website exists to help you understand thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. We read published scientific articles and translate them into simple language. We do not invent facts. We only share what real studies have found. Every article links back to the original research so you can explore more if you want. We invite you to browse our other posts and learn more about your condition and your options.
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. It does not replace a conversation with your doctor. Always talk to a qualified healthcare professional about your symptoms and treatment options. Only a doctor who examines you can give you personal medical guidance.
Article citation
Filus, D., & Pavlicny, R. (2023). Short-term Outcomes of Touch® Prosthesis for Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint. Acta Chirurgiae Orthopaedicae et Traumatologiae Cechoslovaca.
https://doi.org/10.55095/achot2023/033
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