If your thumb hurts every time you open a jar or turn a key, you might have something called rhizarthrosis. That is a big word for arthritis at the base of your thumb. This pain can make everyday tasks feel impossible. You are not alone. This condition affects many people, especially as they get older.
Scientists recently studied a special surgery that can help people with advanced thumb arthritis. They looked at 24 people who had this surgery. The good news is that most people felt much better after the operation. Their pain went away and their thumbs stayed strong.
Key Findings at a Glance
- Pain dropped by more than 76% after surgery
- Thumb strength stayed just as strong as the other hand that did not have surgery
- 20 out of 24 patients had excellent thumb movement after surgery
- Most patients were very happy with their results and could use their thumbs normally
- Only one small infection happened, and it healed quickly with medicine
In this article:
- What is rhizarthrosis and who gets it?
- What did the study look at?
- How does this surgery work?
- What happened to the patients after surgery?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What does this mean for you?
- Important Disclaimer
- Study Source
What is rhizarthrosis and who gets it?
According to this study, rhizarthrosis is common in older people. It makes up about 10% of all cases of arthritis. That means out of every 100 people who have arthritis somewhere in their body, about 10 of them have it in their thumb.
The joint at the base of your thumb does a lot of work. You use it every time you grip something or pinch your fingers together. When this joint gets worn out, even small movements can hurt. Opening jars, turning keys, or buttoning your shirt can become very difficult.
You may be wondering why this matters. Your thumb is special. It is the finger that lets you hold things. When your thumb hurts, many everyday activities become frustrating or painful.
What did the study look at?
Research shows that doctors looked at 24 patients who had advanced rhizarthrosis. Advanced means the arthritis was quite bad. These people had already tried other treatments but still had a lot of pain.
All 24 people had a surgery called a modified Burton Pellegrini technique. Let us break that down. This is a type of operation where the surgeon removes a small bone at the base of the thumb. Then the surgeon rebuilds support using a tendon from your own body.
The doctors wanted to see if this surgery really helped. They checked how much pain people had before and after. They also tested how strong the thumb was. They looked at whether people could move their thumb normally. And they asked patients how happy they were with the results.
How does this surgery work?
Here is where it gets interesting. This surgery does three important things. First, it removes the worn out bone that is causing pain. Second, it rebuilds the joint using your own tendon. Third, it keeps the thumb stable and strong.
The bone that gets removed is called the trapezium. This is a small bone shaped like a saddle at the base of your thumb. When arthritis damages this bone, it rubs against other bones and causes pain.
After removing the bone, the surgeon uses a tendon called the flexor carpi radialis. This tendon normally helps bend your wrist. The surgeon takes this entire tendon and uses it to create new support for your thumb. The tendon fills the space where the bone used to be. It also helps hold everything in place.
According to medical evidence, this technique is called the gold standard for stages two through four of thumb arthritis. Gold standard means it is the best treatment that doctors trust the most. Stages two through four mean the arthritis is moderate to severe.
What happened to the patients after surgery?
Let us look closer at what the doctors found. They used special questionnaires to measure results. One is called DASH and another is called PRWHE. These are just fancy names for forms that ask patients about their pain and how well they can use their hand.
The average DASH score was 18.8. The average PRWHE score was 21.7. Lower numbers are better on these tests. These scores show that most patients felt pretty good after surgery.
Pain got much better
Studies indicate that pain dropped by 76.7% on average. That means if someone had a pain level of 10 before surgery, it dropped to about 2 or 3 after surgery. Most people felt much more comfortable using their thumb.
The doctors measured pain using something called a VAS score. This just means patients rated their pain on a scale. The huge drop in pain shows that the surgery really worked for most people.
Strength stayed the same
You might worry that removing a bone would make your thumb weaker. But research shows that grip strength and key pinch stayed similar to the hand that did not have surgery. Key pinch means the strength you use when you pinch a key between your thumb and finger.
This is important. It means people could still do things like open jars, turn keys, and hold objects just as well as before. The surgery took away pain without taking away strength.
Movement was excellent
The doctors used something called the Kapandji test to check thumb movement. This test looks at whether you can touch different parts of your hand with your thumb. According to this study, 20 out of 24 patients had excellent results on this test.
That means most people could move their thumb normally after surgery. They could touch all their fingers. They could reach across their palm. The thumb stayed flexible and useful.
Very few problems
Only one person had a problem after surgery. This was a small infection on the surface of the skin near the cut. It healed quickly when the person took antibiotics. Antibiotics are medicines that fight infections.
No other serious problems happened. This shows the surgery is quite safe when done by a skilled surgeon.
Patients were happy
Clinical evaluation and individual satisfaction were positive in most cases. This means when doctors examined the patients, things looked good. And when they asked patients how they felt, most people said they were happy with the results.
Being able to use your thumb without pain makes a big difference in daily life. Simple things like cooking, writing, or playing with grandchildren become easier and more enjoyable.
| What Was Measured | Result |
|---|---|
| Pain Reduction | 76.7% decrease |
| Grip Strength | Similar to non operated hand |
| Thumb Movement | Excellent in 20 out of 24 patients |
| Patient Satisfaction | Positive in most cases |
| Complications | Only 1 minor infection |
Who is this surgery right for?
According to the researchers, choosing the right treatment depends on several things. Your age matters. Your job matters. What you need to do with your hands matters. The stage of your arthritis matters too.
If you also have problems with the next joint in your thumb, called the metacarpophalangeal joint, that can change the treatment plan. Your doctor needs to look at your whole thumb, not just one spot.
The study explains that surgery aims to do three things. It should take away pain. It should help your thumb work better. And it should keep your thumb strong. This particular surgery did all three things for most patients.
About This Site
We know medical research can feel confusing. That is why this site exists. We read published scientific articles about thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. Then we explain them in simple words that anyone can understand. Every article on this site comes from real medical research. We never make up facts or give personal opinions. We just help you understand what scientists have discovered. Feel free to explore more articles to learn about different treatments and what research says about them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this surgery really work for advanced thumb arthritis?
Yes, according to this study of 24 patients. Research shows that pain dropped by more than 76% after surgery. Most patients were happy with their results. Their thumbs stayed strong and they could move them well. Only one small infection happened, and it healed quickly.
Will my thumb be weaker after the surgery?
No, strength stayed about the same. Studies indicate that grip strength and the ability to pinch were similar to the hand that did not have surgery. This means you should be able to open jars, turn keys, and hold things just as well as before.
What does the surgery actually do?
The surgeon removes a small worn out bone at the base of your thumb called the trapezium. Then the surgeon uses one of your own tendons to rebuild support in that spot. This takes away the bone on bone rubbing that causes pain. It also keeps your thumb stable and working well.
How long do the results last?
This study looked at long term results. The researchers followed patients over time to see if the good results lasted. The study shows that relief from pain, good thumb movement, and strength continued over the long term for most patients.
What does this mean for you?
If you have advanced thumb arthritis that makes daily life difficult, this surgery might be an option worth discussing with your doctor. According to this study, the modified Burton Pellegrini technique provides pain relief, keeps your thumb stable, and helps you keep moving it well.
The results showed that most people felt much better after surgery. Their pain went way down. Their thumbs stayed strong. And they could use their hands for everyday tasks without constant discomfort.
Of course, every person is different. Your age, your job, what you need to do with your hands, and how bad your arthritis is all matter. A hand surgeon can look at your specific situation and help you decide if this surgery is right for you.
The important thing is that you have options. You do not have to live with constant thumb pain. Medical research keeps finding better ways to help people like you feel better and use their hands more comfortably.
Important Disclaimer
This article explains medical research in simple terms. It is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. It does not replace talking to your doctor. If you have thumb pain or think you might have rhizarthrosis, please see a healthcare professional. Only a doctor who examines you can give you personal medical advice and recommend treatment options that are right for your specific situation.
Study Source
This article is based on research by Pogliacomi, F., Oldani, D., Schiavi, P., Pedrazzini, A., Vaienti, E., and Calderazzi, F., published in Acta Biomed in 2021.