Thumb pain can make everyday tasks hard. Here is a look at a study about a possible treatment for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, also called rhizarthrosis. This condition causes pain and stiffness at the base of the thumb where it meets the wrist.
A research team studied a therapy called low-dose external beam radiotherapy (LD-EBRT). This uses small amounts of radiation to help reduce pain and improve function. Here is what they found:
- Most people saw pain relief after treatment, with many feeling better after 3 and 12 months.
- Some people said their thumb function improved, making daily activities easier.
- The researchers found evidence to guide future studies about this treatment.
Want to know more about how this works? Let us go through the details!
What is in this article?
- What is rhizarthrosis?
- What is LD-EBRT?
- What did the study find?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion and next steps
- Disclaimer
- Study citation
What is rhizarthrosis?
Rhizarthrosis is a type of osteoarthritis that affects the trapeziometacarpal joint (the base of the thumb near the wrist). When this joint wears down over time, it can cause pain, stiffness, and difficulty using your thumb. You may have trouble grabbing things, twisting jars, or writing. Pain can be mild or strong and may affect your life.
What is LD-EBRT?
Low-dose external beam radiotherapy (LD-EBRT) uses small amounts of targeted radiation. Radiation is energy that can reduce swelling and inflammation, and this can help some kinds of joint pain.
In this study, patients had six sessions where the joint received 0.5 Gy of radiation per session. Gy is short for gray, a unit to measure radiation dose. This dose is very low compared with what is used in cancer treatment.
What did the study find?
Did pain get better after LD-EBRT?
The study found that after three months, most people said their pain had lessened. After 12 months, 57% of participants stated their pain got better overall, and 18% said their pain was completely gone.
Researchers used simple tools to measure pain, like the VAS (visual analogue scale). The VAS is a pain score from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Participants rated their overall pain at a median of seven before the treatment. After three months, the score decreased to three, and by twelve months, it dropped to two. That is a big improvement!
Did the thumb work better?
Thumb function helps you grip, write, and do daily tasks. The study used the PRWE (Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation) to measure thumb function. PRWE stands for patient-rated wrist evaluation; it asks about pain and how well you can use your wrist. Lower PRWE scores mean better function. The scores changed as follows:
| Time Point | PRWE Score (Lower is Better) |
|---|---|
| Before Treatment | 0.5 |
| 3 Months | 0.36 |
| 12 Months | 0.27 |
Some movement also improved. Thumb flexion, or the ability to bend the thumb, went from 64 degrees before treatment to 73 degrees after 12 months.
What next for this research?
You may wonder why this matters. This small group points to a promising future for LD-EBRT as a treatment. But to prove benefits, researchers say around 750 more patients would need to be studied in a bigger trial. The study also recommends using the PRWE score in future studies because it helps track progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What causes rhizarthrosis? It happens when the cartilage in the thumb joint wears out, leading to pain and stiffness.
- Is LD-EBRT painful? No, the radiation dose is so small it’s not felt during treatment.
- How long does relief last? In this study, some patients felt better up to 12 months after treatment.
- Would everyone benefit? Results may vary, and larger studies are needed to confirm the findings.
Conclusion and next steps
This study gives hope to people with rhizarthrosis. LD-EBRT may provide relief that lasts, but more research is needed to say for sure. If this sounds interesting, talk to your doctor about what treatment options might fit your needs.
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Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Please talk to your doctor about any questions or treatments for your thumb pain.
Study citation
Hermann, R. M.; Trillmann, A.; Becker, J. N.; Kaltenborn, A.; Nitsche, M.; Ruettermann, M., 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34842775