If you have thumb arthritis, you know how much it can hurt to open a jar, hold a pen, or even turn a key. You may feel frustrated when your thumb does not work the way it used to. A new study shows that a special implant called RegJoint™ may help people with thumb arthritis get better faster and with less pain.
Here are three important things this research tells us:
- Patients who received the RegJoint™ implant showed big improvements in pain and hand use after six months.
- The implant is bioabsorbable, which means it dissolves safely in your body over time.
- When combined with physical therapy, people had a faster and smoother recovery.
Key Findings at a Glance
- 48 patients with rhizarthrosis (mostly women) were treated with the RegJoint™ implant between 2019 and 2023.
- Average patient age was 61 years old.
- The thumb was kept in a splint for 6 weeks after surgery.
- Patients stayed in the hospital for an average of just over 3 days.
- At 6 months and 1 year after surgery, patients had much less pain, less swelling, and better hand function.
In This Article
What Is Rhizarthrosis?
Rhizarthrosis is a big word that means arthritis at the base of your thumb. It happens when the cartilage, which is the smooth cushion that covers your bones, wears away. When this cushion is gone, the bones rub against each other. This causes pain, swelling, and makes it hard to use your thumb.
Many people with rhizarthrosis feel pain when they try to grip something. Everyday tasks become hard. The disease affects quality of life. You may worry about losing your independence.
What Is the RegJoint™ Implant?
The RegJoint™ implant is a small medical device placed inside the thumb joint during surgery. It is made from material that is bioabsorbable. This means your body slowly breaks it down and absorbs it over time. It does not stay in your body forever like metal or plastic implants.
Let us look closer. The implant supports your thumb joint while it heals. It gives your body time to build new, healthy tissue. After a while, the implant dissolves naturally. Your body does not need to remove it with another surgery.
Who Was Part of This Study?
According to this study, 48 patients were treated between the years 2019 and 2023. Most of them were women. In fact, 46 women and 2 men took part. Their average age was about 61 years old. All of them had rhizarthrosis and were looking for a way to ease their pain and improve their hand function.
Research shows that rhizarthrosis affects women much more often than men. That is why most patients in this study were women. All of them had tried other treatments but still had pain and trouble using their thumbs.
What Happened During Treatment?
Here is where it gets interesting. Every patient had surgery to place the RegJoint™ implant in their thumb. After the surgery, their thumb was kept still using a special splint. The splint stayed on for 6 weeks. This gave the joint time to rest and start healing.
Patients stayed in the hospital for an average of 3.2 days. That is just a little more than three days. After going home, they started physical therapy, which is exercise and treatment to help your hand move better and get stronger. They did physical therapy for 6 months.
You may be wondering why physical therapy matters so much. Without it, your thumb might become stiff. Physical therapy helps you regain motion and strength. It teaches your hand how to work well again.
What Did the Results Show?
The doctors checked how well the patients were doing at three different times. They checked before surgery, at the end of 6 months, and at the end of 12 months. They used two special tests to measure progress.
Research shows that at the end of 6 months and 1 year, patients had much less pain. They also had less swelling. Their hand function improved a lot. They could do more activities without discomfort.
This is important because it means the treatment worked well. The implant helped patients recover. The combination of surgery and physical therapy made a big difference.
Why Does This Matter for You?
If you are living with thumb pain, you want a treatment that works. You want to get back to the things you love doing. This study suggests that the RegJoint™ implant, combined with good physical therapy, may help you heal faster and with less pain.
The implant dissolves on its own, so you do not need another surgery to take it out. You spend only a few days in the hospital. Within six months, you may feel much better. By one year, your thumb may work almost like new again.
You may be wondering if this treatment is right for you. That is a great question. Talk to your doctor. Ask about the RegJoint™ implant. Share this research with them. Together, you can decide what is best for your hand.
About This Site
This site is here to help you understand the latest science about thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. We read published medical studies and explain them in simple language. We do not make things up. Every article is based on real research. You can trust what you read here. We invite you to explore more articles and learn about your treatment options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I need to wear a splint after surgery?
According to this study, patients wore a splint for 6 weeks after their surgery. The splint keeps your thumb still so it can heal properly.
How long does recovery take?
Studies indicate that patients in this research did physical therapy for 6 months. They were checked again at 12 months. By that time, they had much better hand function and less pain.
Does the implant stay in my body forever?
No. The RegJoint™ implant is bioabsorbable, which means your body absorbs it over time. It dissolves naturally, so you do not need another surgery to remove it.
Will I be able to use my hand normally again?
Research shows that patients had significant improvement in hand function after this treatment. Many people can return to daily activities with less pain and better motion. Your results depend on many things, including how well you follow your physical therapy plan.
Conclusion
Living with thumb arthritis is not easy. It can make simple tasks feel impossible. But research published in the Journal of IMAB shows that the RegJoint™ implant may offer real hope. Patients in this study had less pain, less swelling, and better hand function after treatment.
The key to success is combining surgery with good physical therapy. This helps your thumb heal faster and work better. If you are struggling with thumb pain, talk to your doctor. Ask if the RegJoint™ implant might be right for you. You deserve to feel better and do the things you love.
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before making decisions about your health or treatment. Your doctor knows your situation best and can help you choose the right care.
Article Citation
Vasileva, Denitsa; Kateva, Margarita; Petrov, Georgi (2024). ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS TREATED FOR RHIZARTHROSIS WITH THE RegJoint™ IMPLANT. Journal of IMAB – Annual Proceeding (Scientific Papers).
https://doi.org/10.5272/jimab.2024302.5477