If you have pain at the base of your thumb that will not go away, you are not alone. Many people struggle with thumb pain caused by a condition called rhizarthrosis. This is a type of arthritis that affects the joint where your thumb connects to your wrist.
Researchers studied a surgery that removes a small bone and uses part of a tendon to help rebuild the area. The results showed that this surgery helped people feel less pain and use their hands better.
Here are three important things to know:
- The surgery gave good pain relief to patients
- People could do more with their hands after the surgery
- The technique is relatively simple and effective
Key Findings at a Glance
- Research shows that ten patients with severe thumb arthritis underwent surgery to remove a small bone called the trapezium and rebuild the area with tendon tissue.
- According to this study, pain relief was considered good and significant after surgery.
- Studies indicate that patients showed functional improvements in their ability to perform daily activities.
- The Buck-Gramcko scoring system showed one excellent and three very good results among patients.
- All patients experienced some migration of the first metacarpal bone, but overall outcomes remained positive.
In This Article
What Is Rhizarthrosis?
Rhizarthrosis is the medical name for arthritis at the base of your thumb. This happens at a special joint where your thumb bone meets a small bone in your wrist called the trapezium.
When you have this condition, simple activities can become painful. Opening a jar, turning a key, or writing can hurt. The pain is usually right at the base of your thumb where it connects to your hand.
You may be wondering why this matters. When pain does not get better with rest or medicine, surgery might be an option.
How Does This Surgery Work?
The surgery studied in this research has two main steps. First, doctors remove the trapezium bone. This is a small bone at the base of your thumb that has become damaged by arthritis.
Second, doctors take a piece of yarn from a tendon in your thumb. A tendon is like a strong rope that connects muscle to bone. They use this piece to fill the space where the bone used to be. This acts like a cushion.
Here is where it gets interesting. The tendon piece helps keep the thumb bones in the right position while also giving them something soft to move against.
Who Was Studied in This Research?
According to this study, researchers looked at ten patients who had surgery between May and August 2005. All of these patients had severe thumb arthritis that did not get better with other treatments.
The patients were grouped by how bad their arthritis was. Doctors use something called the Eaton classification. This is a system that grades arthritis from stage I (mild) to stage IV (very bad).
The study included patients in stages II, III, and IV. These are people whose arthritis was causing persistent pain. Persistent means the pain kept coming back and would not go away even with medicine or rest.
How Did Doctors Measure Success?
Researchers used several tools to see if the surgery worked. Let us look closer at what they measured.
They used the visual analogue scale. This is a simple way to measure pain. You point to a number between zero and ten. Zero means no pain. Ten means the worst pain you can imagine.
They also used something called the DASH questionnaire. DASH stands for Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand. This asks questions about how well you can do everyday tasks.
Finally, they used the Buck-Gramcko score. This is a special scoring system just for thumb surgery results. It looks at pain, function, and how happy patients are with the results.
What Happened After Surgery?
Research shows that the pain relief was considered good. The study reports this was significant, with a p value of 0.005. A p value is a number that tells scientists how sure they are that the results are real and not just by chance.
Studies indicate that patients showed functional improvements. This means they could do more things with their hands. The improvements were seen in modules 2 and 3 of the DASH questionnaire. These parts measure your ability to do work tasks and play music or sports.
| Measurement Tool | What It Measures | Result Found |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Analogue Scale | Pain level | Good relief |
| DASH Module 2 | Work ability | Improvement |
| DASH Module 3 | Sports and music | Improvement |
| Buck-Gramcko Score | Overall satisfaction | One excellent, three very good |
The Buck-Gramcko score showed one excellent result and three very good results among the patients. This means many patients were happy with how their surgery turned out.
Did Hand Strength Get Better?
According to medical evidence in this study, doctors measured many types of hand strength. They wanted to see if patients could grip and pinch better after surgery.
They tested several movements:
- Palm grip: how hard you can squeeze your whole hand
- Pulp to pulp pinch: pinching your thumb tip to your finger tip
- Lateral pinch: pinching with the side of your thumb
- Three point pinch: using your thumb and two fingers together
- Opposition: touching your thumb to your pinky finger
- Radial and palmar abductions: moving your thumb away from your hand in different directions
Research shows that there was improvement in almost all of these measurements. Only lateral pinch and abduction did not show significant improvement.
What About Bone Movement?
One finding to understand is that all patients had migration of the first metacarpal. The first metacarpal is the long bone in your thumb.
Even though the bones moved a little, patients still had good results. The pain relief and function improvements were still considered effective. Doctors checked this by taking x rays at rest and when the thumb was under stress or pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this surgery painful?
According to this study, patients experienced good pain relief after the surgery. The surgery itself is done with anesthesia so you do not feel pain during the procedure. Recovery involves some discomfort, but the goal is to reduce your long term thumb pain.
How long does recovery take?
The study measured results after the surgery was complete, but the exact recovery time is not specified in this research. Recovery typically involves rehabilitation and hand therapy to regain strength and movement.
Will my thumb work normally after surgery?
Research shows that patients showed functional improvements after surgery. Studies indicate that most strength measurements got better. You should be able to do more activities with less pain. However, some movements like lateral pinch may not improve as much.
What happens to the space where the bone was removed?
According to this study, doctors use a piece of tendon tissue to fill the space. This acts like a cushion between the bones. It helps keep your thumb in the right position and allows smooth movement.
About This Site
This website helps people understand thumb pain and rhizarthrosis by simplifying medical science. We read published scientific articles and explain them in plain language. Every fact comes from real research studies.
Our goal is to help you understand your condition better. Knowledge gives you power when talking to your doctor. We invite you to explore more articles about thumb arthritis, treatment options, and hand health.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you have severe thumb pain that has not gotten better with medicine or rest, surgery might be an option worth discussing with your doctor. This study shows that trapeziectomy with tendon interposition can provide good pain relief.
According to this research, the technique is relatively simple and effective. Patients in the study were able to do more with their hands after surgery. Most strength measurements improved.
The most important takeaway is that pain relief was significant. Living with constant thumb pain affects your quality of life. This surgery offers hope for people who have tried other treatments without success.
Talk to your hand specialist or orthopedic surgeon. Ask if this type of surgery is right for your situation. Bring your questions and concerns. Your doctor can help you understand if you are a good candidate.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. The information comes from a published research study and is explained in simple language to help you understand the science.
Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions about your treatment. Your doctor knows your specific situation and can give you personalized advice. Do not use this article to diagnose or treat any medical condition.
Research Source
This article is based on research published by Junior, W. G., Chaim, R. M., de Carvalho, H. B., Albertoni, W. M., Faloppa, F., and Santos, J. B. in Rev Bras Ortop (2011).