If you have been living with thumb pain at the base of your thumb, you are not alone. Many people suffer from pain in the joint where your thumb meets your wrist. This condition is called trapeziometacarpal arthritis, or TMC arthritis. It is also known as rhizarthrosis or thumb base arthritis.
When simple treatments do not help, doctors may suggest surgery. One option is to place a special device called a prosthesis into your thumb joint. This study looked at people who had this type of surgery more than 15 years ago. The results show us if this treatment really lasts.
Here are three important things you should know:
- The surgery helped 84 out of 100 people stay pain free for over 15 years.
- Pain levels dropped by more than 90 percent.
- Most problems happened in the first three years after surgery.
Key Findings at a Glance
- Research shows that 84% of thumb joint replacements were still working well after an average of 16.5 years.
- Pain at rest improved by 97% and pain during activity improved by 91%.
- Only 7 out of 43 surgeries (16%) needed to be redone, and 5 of these happened within the first 3 years.
- All patients who needed a second surgery were successfully treated with a different procedure.
- Hand function improved significantly, with disability scores improving by 44.9 points.
What is TMC arthritis?
Your thumb has a very important joint at its base. This joint connects your thumb to your wrist. It has a special name: the trapeziometacarpal joint, or TMC joint for short.
When you have arthritis in this joint, simple things become hard. Turning a key, opening a jar, or writing can all cause pain. You may be wondering why this matters. This joint does so much work every day that when it hurts, your whole hand feels limited.
What did this study look at?
According to this study, researchers wanted to know if thumb surgery could help people for a very long time. They followed patients who had a special type of surgery at least 15 years ago.
The surgery they studied uses a device called the Arpe prosthesis. A prosthesis is an artificial part that replaces a damaged body part. In this case, it replaces the worn out joint in your thumb.
The researchers checked three things:
- How much pain people had
- How well their thumbs worked
- Whether the prosthesis was still in place or needed to be removed
Here is where it gets interesting. Most studies only follow patients for a few years. This study followed them for an average of 197 months. That is more than 16 years.
Who was in the study?
The study included 43 thumb surgeries in 41 people. Two people had surgery on both thumbs. Most of the patients were women. In fact, 39 were women and only 4 were men.
This makes sense. Research shows that women get thumb base arthritis much more often than men. The follow up time ranged from 180 to 225 months. That means every single person in the study was checked for at least 15 years.
What were the results?
Let us look closer at what the researchers found. The numbers tell us a lot about how well this surgery works over many years.
How many surgeries were still working after 15 years?
According to this study, 84% of the surgeries were still successful after an average of 16.5 years. This is called the survival rate. It means that 84 out of every 100 people who had this surgery did not need another operation.
| Outcome | Result |
|---|---|
| Survival rate at 16.5 years | 84% |
| Total failures | 7 out of 43 (16%) |
| Failures in first 3 years | 5 out of 7 |
Did pain get better?
Pain improvement was remarkable. People in this study reported huge drops in their pain levels. Pain at rest improved by 97%. Pain during exercise improved by 91%.
These numbers come from something called a visual analogue pain score. This is a simple way doctors measure pain. You mark on a line how much pain you feel. The researchers compared pain levels before surgery to pain levels 15 years later.
Could people use their hands better?
The study also measured how well people could use their hands. They used a test called the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score. This is a questionnaire that asks about daily activities.
This score improved by 44.9 points. That is a big improvement. It means people could do much more with their hands after surgery than before.
How successful is this surgery?
You may be wondering what happens when the surgery does not work. In this study, 7 surgeries out of 43 failed. That is 16%. A failure means the prosthesis had to be removed.
The good news is that 5 of these 7 failures happened in the first 3 years. After the first 3 years, failures were rare. This tells us something important. If your surgery works well for the first few years, it will likely keep working for many more years.
When a prosthesis did fail, all patients were successfully treated with a different surgery. This surgery is called a trapeziectomy. In this procedure, the doctor removes the small wrist bone that was causing trouble. The patients did well after this second surgery.
What about long term safety?
Safety over the long term is very important. According to this study, the cumulative survival rate stayed high even after more than 15 years. Cumulative survival rate means the percentage of surgeries that are still working as time goes by.
This tells us that the Arpe prosthesis is a reliable option. Reliable means you can count on it to work for a long time.
About This Site
We simplify medical science so you can understand the latest research about thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. Every article on this site is based only on published scientific studies. We translate complex medical language into words everyone can understand. If you found this helpful, explore more content on our site to learn about treatments, causes, and ways to manage thumb arthritis.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a thumb joint replacement last?
According to this study, 84% of thumb joint replacements using the Arpe prosthesis were still working well after an average of 16.5 years. Most problems happened in the first three years. If your surgery works well in the early years, it is likely to keep working for a long time.
Will my thumb pain go away after surgery?
Research shows that pain at rest improved by 97% and pain during activity improved by 91% in patients who had this surgery. This means most people had much less pain after their thumb joint replacement, even 15 years later.
What happens if the thumb prosthesis fails?
If a thumb prosthesis fails, it can be removed and replaced with a different surgery called a trapeziectomy. In this study, all 7 patients whose prostheses failed were successfully treated with this second procedure. No one was left worse off.
Is thumb joint replacement only for women?
No, but thumb base arthritis is much more common in women. In this study, 39 out of 43 patients were women. Men can also develop this condition and benefit from surgery, but it happens less often.
What does this mean for you?
If you have been struggling with thumb pain that does not get better with splints, medicine, or other simple treatments, this research brings hope. Thumb joint replacement with a prosthesis can provide long lasting relief.
According to this study, most people who have this surgery enjoy much less pain and better hand function for many years. The surgery is especially reliable if it works well in the first few years.
Of course, every person is different. Talk to your doctor about whether this type of surgery is right for you. Your doctor can look at your specific situation and help you decide on the best treatment.
The most important message from this research is simple. Thumb joint replacement can be a lasting solution. It can help you get back to doing the things you love without pain.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. The information here comes from a published scientific study. It should not replace a conversation with your doctor. Always talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your symptoms and treatment options. Only your doctor can give you advice that fits your personal health situation.
Research Source
Van Geel, P.; Decramer, A.; Top, A.; Muermans, S.; Ryckaert, T.; Vanmierlo, B. (2025). Thumb Arthroplasty as Reliable Long-term Solution for Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis: A Minimum of 15 Years of Follow-up. Hand (N Y).