If you are living with thumb pain from arthritis at the base of your thumb, you know how hard simple tasks can become. Opening a jar, turning a key, or even holding a pen can feel impossible. You may have tried creams, splints, or injections. But what happens when those treatments stop working?
This article explains research on a special thumb joint replacement called the Touch® prosthesis. The study followed 48 patients for two years after surgery. The results are encouraging.
Here are three key points:
- Over 91 percent of patients were happy with the outcome after two years.
- Pain dropped dramatically after surgery.
- No dislocations or loosening of the implant occurred in the group studied.
Key Findings at a Glance
- Research shows that 91.1% of patients were satisfied with the Touch® prosthesis after two years.
- According to this study, the average pain score dropped from 4.45 points before surgery to 1.2 points at two years.
- Studies indicate that the DASH score (a measure of hand function) improved from 65.3 points to 10.8 points after two years.
- No dislocation or loosening of the implant was observed in any of the 56 prostheses implanted.
- All patients achieved full range of motion at the two year follow up.
What is rhizarthrosis and why does it hurt so much?
What is the Touch® prosthesis?
Who was studied in this research?
What did researchers find after two years?
What does dual mobility mean for you?
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Disclaimer
Scientific Source
What is rhizarthrosis and why does it hurt so much?
This condition affects mostly women. The joint wears down over time. You may notice a bump at the base of your thumb. Gripping becomes painful. You might drop things more often.
You may be wondering why this matters. This joint is one of the most important joints in your hand. It allows your thumb to move in many directions. When it breaks down, your whole hand function suffers.
What is the Touch® prosthesis?
The Touch® prosthesis is an artificial joint that replaces the damaged joint at the base of your thumb. Think of it like a tiny ball and socket joint. Doctors remove the worn out bone surfaces and insert this new joint.
This is called a total arthroplasty. That simply means replacing an entire joint. The Touch® prosthesis is considered a third generation design. This means engineers have learned from older designs and made improvements.
Here is where it gets interesting. The Touch® prosthesis uses something called dual mobility. We will explain what that means in a moment. First, let us look at who was part of this study.
Who was studied in this research?
According to this study, researchers followed 48 patients who received 56 thumb joint replacements. Some patients had surgery on both thumbs. The group included 41 women and 7 men. The middle age was 62 years old.
All of these patients had tried treatments that did not involve surgery first. Things like splints, medicine, or injections. When those treatments stopped helping, surgery became the next option.
The patients had arthritis that doctors rated as stage II through stage IV. Stage II means moderate damage. Stage IV means severe damage. The Eaton Littler classification is the system doctors use to rate how bad the arthritis is.
Let us look closer. The doctors measured how well patients could move their thumbs. They used something called the Kapandji score. This measures how well you can touch your thumb to different parts of your hand. The doctors also used a questionnaire called DASH. This asks questions about pain and daily activities.
What did researchers find after two years?
Research shows that the results were very good. After 24 months, 91.1 percent of patients said they were satisfied with the surgery. That is 51 out of 56 cases.
Only 8.9 percent of patients, which is 5 people, had some problems. These problems included pain during exercise, less movement than expected, or hand weakness. But even with these issues, no implants came loose. No implants dislocated, which means they did not pop out of place.
Studies indicate that pain dropped dramatically. Before surgery, the average pain score was 4.45 points out of 5. After two years, the average pain was only 1.2 points. That is a huge improvement.
Hand function also got much better. The DASH questionnaire measures how hard it is to do everyday tasks. Before surgery, the average score was 65.3 points. A higher score means more difficulty. After two years, the average score dropped to 10.8 points. That means patients could do most activities with much less trouble.
| Measurement | Before Surgery | After Two Years |
|---|---|---|
| Pain Score | 4.45 points | 1.2 points |
| DASH Score | 65.3 points | 10.8 points |
| Patient Satisfaction | Not measured | 91.1% |
All wounds healed without problems. The study found no infections, either on the surface or deep inside the hand. All patients were able to move their thumbs fully after two years.
What does dual mobility mean for you?
According to medical evidence, older thumb joint replacements sometimes dislocated. That means the ball part of the joint popped out of the socket part. When this happens, you need another surgery to fix it.
The dual mobility design was created to solve this problem. By allowing movement at two points, the implant can move more like a natural joint. At the same time, it stays in place better.
In this study, not a single implant dislocated. That is a very good sign. It suggests the dual mobility design works as intended.
How does this compare to other treatments?
The study notes that there are many ways to treat severe thumb arthritis. Some surgeries remove part of the bone and use a tendon to create a cushion. Others fuse the bones together so they cannot move. Each approach has benefits and drawbacks.
Joint replacement is one option. The advantage is that you keep movement in your thumb. The Touch® prosthesis appears to offer good short term results based on this research. The authors say the results match what other researchers have found around the world.
You may be wondering why this matters to you. If you are considering surgery, knowing which options have good results can help you talk with your doctor.
About this site
This website simplifies medical science for people dealing with thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. We read published scientific studies and translate them into plain language. We only use real research from medical journals. Nothing is invented or guessed. Our goal is to help you understand your options so you can have better conversations with your doctor. Feel free to explore more articles on thumb arthritis, treatments, and recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to recover from Touch® prosthesis surgery?
According to this study, patients were evaluated at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. The research shows that pain and function improved steadily over this time. Most patients regained full thumb movement by the two year mark. Your doctor will give you a specific recovery plan based on your situation.
Is the Touch® prosthesis right for everyone with thumb arthritis?
Research shows that patients in this study had stage II to stage IV arthritis according to the Eaton Littler classification. All of them had tried treatments without surgery first, and those treatments did not provide enough relief. Your doctor will consider the stage of your arthritis, your age, your activity level, and other factors before recommending surgery.
What are the risks of this type of surgery?
Studies indicate that in this group of 56 implants, there were no dislocations, no loosening of the prosthesis, and no infections. However, 8.9 percent of patients experienced pain with exercise, limited movement, or hand weakness. Every surgery has risks. Your surgeon will discuss these with you before you decide.
Will I be able to use my hand normally after surgery?
According to medical evidence from this study, the average DASH score dropped from 65.3 points before surgery to 10.8 points at two years. A lower DASH score means better hand function. Over 91 percent of patients were satisfied with their outcome. Most patients saw major improvements in their ability to do daily activities.
Conclusion
Living with thumb arthritis is hard. Simple tasks become painful. When nonsurgical treatments stop working, you need to know what surgical options exist.
Research shows that the Touch® prosthesis offers very good short term results for people with advanced thumb arthritis. Pain dropped dramatically. Hand function improved. Patients were very satisfied. No implants came loose or dislocated in this study.
The dual mobility design appears to make the implant more stable. The study authors say these results match what other researchers have found. They recommend following patients for longer than two years to see how the implant holds up over time.
If you are struggling with thumb pain, talk with your doctor. Ask about all your treatment options. Bring your questions. This research gives you one more piece of information to help guide your decisions.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. It does not replace a visit with your doctor. Every person is different. What works for one patient may not work for another. Always talk with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your treatment. Only your doctor can evaluate your specific situation and recommend the best care for you.
Scientific Source
This article is based on research published by Filus, D. and Pavlicny, R. in Acta Chirurgiae Orthopaedicae et Traumatologiae Cechoslovaca in 2023.
https://doi.org/10.55095/achot2023/033
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