If you have been living with thumb pain at the base of your thumb, you know how frustrating it can be. Simple things like opening a jar or turning a key become difficult. Many people with stage-three thumb arthritis are told they need surgery that removes a small bone in the wrist. But what if there was another way?
This article shares findings from a recent study about a different kind of surgery. It uses a replacement joint instead of removing bone. Here are three things you will learn:
- How this surgery works and what happens during recovery
- What results patients experienced after the procedure
- Who might be a good fit for this treatment option
Key Findings at a Glance
- Grip strength recovered to 87.75% compared to the other hand after about two years
- Pain scores dropped to just 1 on a scale where 10 is worst pain
- Patients returned to daily activities within the first 12 months
- Complications occurred in only 6.9% of patients
- Range of motion reached 81% of the unaffected thumb
In this article:
- What Is Thumb Joint Arthritis?
- What Did This Study Look At?
- How Does This Surgery Work?
- What Results Did Patients Experience?
- Who Can Have This Surgery?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What Does This Mean for You?
- Important Information
- Scientific Source
What Is Thumb Joint Arthritis?
Let us start with the basics. The base of your thumb has a special joint called the CMC joint. CMC stands for carpometacarpal. This is where your thumb bone meets a small bone in your wrist called the trapezium.
When doctors talk about stages, they mean how severe the arthritis is. Stage three means the arthritis is quite advanced. The joint space has narrowed and the bones show changes on X-rays.
You may be wondering why this matters. This joint is one of the most important in your hand. It allows you to pinch, grip, and hold objects. When it hurts, everything becomes harder.
What Did This Study Look At?
According to this study, researchers wanted to see how well a specific type of surgery worked for people with stage three thumb arthritis. The surgery used a replacement joint instead of removing bone.
The study followed 34 patients over time. These were people who had tried treatments like splints or medicine first. Those treatments had not worked well enough. All patients were over 60 years old and still wanted to stay active in their daily lives.
Here is where it gets interesting. The replacement joint used in this study is called a prosthesis. Think of it like a tiny artificial joint. It has a metal part and a plastic part. The metal part goes into the thumb bone. The plastic part sits where the old joint surface was.
The specific prosthesis used is called the Maia implant. It does not need cement to hold it in place. Instead, it presses into the bone and the bone grows around it over time.
How Does This Surgery Work?
The surgery keeps both bones in place. The surgeon does not remove the trapezium bone like in traditional surgery. Instead, they prepare the surfaces of both bones. Then they place the artificial joint between them.
This approach is different from what many surgeons do. The traditional surgery is called trapeziectomy. That word means removing the trapezium bone. Then surgeons either leave the space empty or fill it with tissue.
Research shows that keeping the bone in place may help patients return to activities faster. The artificial joint allows movement while taking away the bone on bone grinding that causes pain.
What Results Did Patients Experience?
Let us look closer at what happened after surgery. The researchers measured several things to see how well patients recovered.
Pain Relief
Patients reported their pain using something called the Visual Analogue Scale or VAS. On this scale, zero means no pain and ten means the worst pain imaginable. After surgery, the average pain score was just 1. That is a huge improvement for people who had been suffering.
Strength Recovery
Grip strength is how hard you can squeeze something. After an average of 25 months, patients could grip with 87.75% of the strength in their other hand. Think about it this way. If your good hand could squeeze with 100 units of force, your surgery hand could squeeze with almost 88 units.
| What Was Measured | Result Compared to Other Hand |
|---|---|
| Grip Strength | 87.75% |
| Range of Motion | 81% |
| Pain Score (VAS) | 1 out of 10 |
Movement and Function
Range of motion means how far you can move your thumb in different directions. Patients recovered 81% of the motion compared to their other thumb. This is important because it lets you do everyday tasks like buttoning clothes or using a phone.
The study also used a questionnaire called QuickDASH. This asks patients how hard it is to do activities with their arm, shoulder, and hand. Lower scores are better. Patients scored an average of 1, which means very little difficulty.
Return to Daily Life
One of the most important findings was about daily activities. According to this study, patients were able to return to their normal activities within the first 12 months after surgery. This means cooking, cleaning, gardening, and other tasks that matter in everyday life.
What About Complications?
Only 2 patients out of 34 had complications. That is 6.9%. The study does not detail what those complications were, but this low rate is encouraging.
One interesting finding was that X-rays showed something called metacarpal subsidence in all patients. The metacarpal is your thumb bone. Subsidence means the bone settled down slightly into the wrist. This sounds worrying, but it did not seem to cause problems for patients. Their thumbs still worked well and felt better.
Who Can Have This Surgery?
Not everyone with thumb arthritis is right for this procedure. The study looked at specific types of patients. Here is who was included:
- People over 60 years old
- People with stage three CMC joint arthritis confirmed on X-rays
- People who tried non-surgical treatments first, like splints, medicine, or injections
- People who were still active and wanted to keep doing daily tasks
The study did not include people with certain conditions. These included mental illness that would make recovery difficult, alcohol abuse, or arthritis caused by diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions can affect healing or make the implant less likely to work well.
Why Age Matters
You might wonder why the study focused on people over 60. Older patients often want to stay independent and active but may not put as much stress on the joint as younger people. The implant needs to last many years. Choosing the right patients helps ensure good results.
About This Site
This website helps people understand thumb pain and rhizarthrosis by breaking down real scientific research. We only use information from published medical studies. Our goal is to make complex medical information simple and clear. You can explore more articles about thumb arthritis, treatment options, and recovery tips. Each article is based on actual research, not opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to recover from this surgery?
According to this study, patients returned to their daily activities within the first 12 months after surgery. The measurements in the study were taken after an average of 25 months. Recovery happens in stages, with improvement continuing over time.
Will my thumb feel normal after surgery?
Research shows that patients recovered 87.75% of grip strength and 81% of range of motion compared to the other hand. Pain dropped to very low levels. While not exactly the same as before arthritis, most patients found these results allowed them to do what they needed in daily life.
What is the difference between this surgery and removing the bone?
Traditional surgery often removes the trapezium bone from the wrist. This study used a replacement joint that keeps the bone in place. The artificial joint sits between the bones and allows movement without pain. This may help patients recover faster and maintain better function.
Is this surgery safe?
Studies indicate that complications occurred in only 6.9% of patients in this research. That means more than 93% of patients had no complications. All patients showed bone settling on X-rays, but this did not cause problems with function or pain relief.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you are living with stage three thumb arthritis and over 60 years old, this research offers hope. According to medical evidence, total joint replacement can relieve pain, restore much of your strength and motion, and help you get back to daily activities.
The choice between different surgeries depends on many factors. Your age, activity level, bone quality, and overall health all matter. This study shows that for the right patients, keeping the bone and using an artificial joint can work well.
Talk with your hand surgeon about your options. Ask about the different types of surgery available. Share your goals for what you want to do with your hands. Together, you can decide what approach makes sense for your situation.
Remember that this surgery was studied in people who had already tried other treatments first. Non-surgical options like splints, therapy, and injections are usually the first step. Surgery is for when those treatments no longer provide enough relief.
Important Information
This article is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. The information here comes from one scientific study and may not apply to every person. Your own health situation is unique. Always talk with your doctor before making decisions about treatment. Only a qualified healthcare provider can examine you, review your medical history, and recommend what is best for your specific case.
Scientific Source
This article is based on research by Aita, Marcio Aurelio; Aita, Giulia Cordeiro; Rocha, Cleyton; Savaris, Sullivan; Leite, Mauricio; Cabanilla, Samuel Pajares, published in Revista brasileira de ortopedia (2025).
Read the full study here:
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0045-1812997
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