If you have had thumb surgery before and still feel pain, you are not alone. Many people struggle with long lasting thumb pain even after their first operation. This article explains a new type of thumb implant that may help.
Here are three important things to know:
- This implant is for people whose first thumb surgery did not work well
- It keeps your thumb long and lets it move in all directions
- Doctors tested it on 11 patients and saw good results
Key Findings at a Glance
- 11 patients with 13 thumbs were treated with a special implant placed between the wrist and thumb bone
- Average grip strength recovered to 80 to 90 percent compared to the other hand
- Thumb movement scores reached an average of 9 out of 10 on the Kapandji scale
- All implants showed good bone growth around them with no loosening or slipping out of place
- Average follow up time was 16 months, ranging from 4 to 49 months
In This Article
What Is Rhizarthrosis and Who Gets It?
Rhizarthrosis is a big word for arthritis in your thumb. It happens at the base of your thumb where it meets your wrist.
Research shows that this problem affects mostly women over 50 years old. According to this study, up to 30 percent of people in this group have some degree of arthritis in this thumb joint.
The joint has a special name too. Doctors call it the TMC-1 joint. This stands for trapeziometacarpal joint. That is the spot where your thumb bone meets a small wrist bone shaped like a trapezoid.
What Goes Wrong After First Surgeries?
Many people have surgery to fix thumb arthritis. One common surgery is called trapeziectomy. In this operation, the doctor removes the small wrist bone that is causing trouble.
Sometimes doctors also rebuild ligaments. Ligaments are like strong rubber bands that hold bones together. They hope this will keep the thumb stable and pain free.
But here is where it gets interesting. Some patients still have problems after these surgeries. They may feel pain that does not go away. Their thumb may become shorter. They may have trouble gripping things.
This is frustrating. You went through surgery and recovery. You hoped to feel better. But the pain came back or never fully left.
What Is This New Implant?
The implant in this study is called the Touch ball in socket prosthesis. A prosthesis is an artificial body part made to replace something that is damaged or missing.
You may be wondering why this matters. This implant is different from older options. It works like a ball sitting in a cup. Think of your shoulder joint. It moves in all directions. This implant tries to copy that design.
The surgeon places one part of the implant in your wrist bone called the scaphoid. The scaphoid is a small bone on the thumb side of your wrist. The other part attaches to your thumb bone. Together they create a new smooth joint.
How Does It Work?
Let us look closer at how doctors use this implant. The study involved 11 patients. These patients had 13 thumbs treated in total. Two patients had both thumbs done.
All of these patients had previous thumb surgeries that did not work well. They still had pain. Many had thumbs that were shorter than before. Their grip strength was weak.
According to this study, surgeons carefully chose the right size implant for each person. They made adjustments based on what each patient needed. This customization is important. Every hand is different.
After surgery, patients wore a cast to protect the thumb while it healed. The bone needs time to grow around the implant. This process is called osseointegration. It means the bone holds the implant firmly in place.
What Did the Study Find?
The results are encouraging. The average follow up time was 16 months. This means doctors checked on patients for over a year on average. Some patients were followed for as short as 4 months. Others were tracked for 49 months.
Research shows that all patients saw significant improvements in how their thumb worked. Let us break down the numbers.
How Strong Did the Thumbs Become?
Grip strength improved a lot. Doctors measured this with a tool called a dynamometer. It squeezes your hand to see how hard you can grip.
Studies indicate that patients recovered to 80 to 90 percent of the grip strength in their other hand. If your good hand can squeeze with 100 units of force, your treated hand could squeeze with 80 to 90 units. That is very close to normal.
How Well Could the Thumbs Move?
Thumb movement was measured using something called the Kapandji score. This score goes from 0 to 10. It tests if you can touch your thumb to different spots on your hand and fingers.
According to medical evidence, patients scored an average of 9 out of 10. This means they could move their thumbs almost as well as someone with a healthy thumb.
Did the Implants Stay in Place?
Doctors took x-rays to check the implants. X-rays are pictures that show bones inside your body. All the implants showed good signs. The bone was growing around them. There were no signs of loosening. None of the implants slipped out of place.
| What Was Measured | Result |
|---|---|
| Number of Patients | 11 |
| Number of Thumbs Treated | 13 |
| Average Follow Up Time | 16 months |
| Grip Strength Recovery | 80 to 90 percent |
| Kapandji Movement Score | 9 out of 10 |
Were There Any Problems?
No treatment is perfect. This study reported two complications. A complication is a problem that happens because of the surgery or during healing.
Nerve Numbness
One patient had mild numbness on the thumb side of the hand. This happened because a small nerve near the skin was affected. The nerve is called the superficial branch of the radial nerve.
The good news is that this numbness was mild. It did not stop the patient from using the hand normally. The thumb still worked well.
Bone Fracture
One patient broke the scaphoid bone four weeks after surgery. A fracture is a break in a bone. This happened while the patient was still wearing a protective cast.
This was unusual. The cast is meant to protect the bone while it heals. The doctors managed this problem. The study does not say the implant failed because of this.
Common Questions
Who is this implant good for?
According to this study, this implant is best for people who have already had thumb surgery that did not work. If you still have pain, a short thumb, or weak grip after your first operation, this may be an option to discuss with your doctor.
How is this different from other thumb surgeries?
Research shows that this implant keeps your thumb long and moving. Other surgeries like arthrodesis fuse the bones together so the thumb cannot move. Other surgeries like tendon suspension may shorten the thumb. This implant tries to give you both length and movement.
What if this implant does not work for me?
Studies indicate that if the implant fails, other options are still available. You can still have arthrodesis or tendon suspension surgery later. This implant does not burn bridges. It gives you a chance at better function first.
How long does recovery take?
The study does not give exact recovery times. But it mentions that patients wore a cast for protection during early healing. Full recovery likely takes several months as the bone grows around the implant.
About This Site
We simplify medical science to help people with thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. Every article on this site is based only on published scientific research. We read the studies so you do not have to. Our goal is to give you clear, honest, and easy to understand information. Feel free to explore more articles to learn about your condition and treatment options.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you are living with thumb pain after a surgery that did not work, there is hope. This study shows that a scapho-metacarpal dual mobility prosthesis can help. It is a big name for a small implant that makes a big difference.
The research shows good results. Patients got stronger grips. They could move their thumbs well. The implants stayed in place. Most people did not have serious problems.
This is still a newer approach. The doctors who wrote this study say more research is needed. Long term studies will help us understand how well these implants last over many years.
If you are struggling with thumb pain, talk to your doctor. Ask if this type of implant might be right for you. Bring questions. Bring this article if it helps. You deserve to have a thumb that works and feels good.
Your journey with thumb pain has been hard. But new options are being developed. Stay hopeful. Stay informed. And keep working with your medical team to find what works best for you.
Important Note
This article is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. It does not replace a conversation with your doctor. Every person is different. Every case of thumb arthritis is unique. Only your doctor can tell you what treatment is right for you. Always talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions about your health.
Research Source
This article is based on research published by Glaser, J.; Aman, M.; Krohn, T.; Duerinckx, J.; Panzram, B.; Harhaus, L. in Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery in 2025.
Read the full study here:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-025-05751-w
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