If you have pain at the base of your thumb that will not go away, you may have heard about thumb joint replacement surgery. This article looks at a study that followed 22 people who had a special type of thumb replacement called the Maïa prosthesis. The researchers wanted to see how well it worked over several years.
Here are three key points from this study:
- Most patients were happy with the surgery and had good thumb movement afterward.
- The replacement lasted well, with 86 out of 100 people still having their implant working after five years.
- Some patients had problems, and a few needed another operation.
Key Findings at a Glance
- According to this study, patients rated their satisfaction with the surgery as 8.8 out of 10.
- Research shows that patients recovered 89% of thumb movement compared to their other hand.
- The implant survival rate was 86.4% after five years of follow up.
- Studies indicate that 13.6% of patients needed another surgery due to complications like dislocation or loosening.
- Most patients were women around 60 years old with moderate to severe thumb arthritis.
In This Article
- What Is Thumb Joint Replacement Surgery?
- Who Was Studied?
- What Did Researchers Find About Movement and Strength?
- How Happy Were Patients After Surgery?
- What Problems Happened?
- What Does This Mean for You?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- Disclaimer
- Scientific Source
What Is Thumb Joint Replacement Surgery?
Your thumb has a special joint at its base called the trapeziometacarpal joint. This is where your thumb bone meets a small bone in your wrist called the trapezium. When you have arthritis in this joint, it is called rhizarthrosis.
When pain medicines and splints do not help anymore, doctors may suggest surgery. One option is to replace the damaged joint with an artificial one. This is called thumb joint replacement or arthroplasty.
The Maïa prosthesis is one type of artificial joint used for this surgery. It is made to move like your natural thumb joint. The surgery involves putting two parts into place. One part goes into the wrist bone. The other part goes into the thumb bone.
Who Was Studied?
The researchers looked at 22 patients who had this surgery between 2015 and 2017. Almost all of them were women. This makes sense because thumb arthritis is much more common in women than in men.
The average age was about 60 years old. Most of these patients had moderate or severe arthritis. Doctors use something called the Eaton Littler classification to measure how bad the arthritis is. Four patients had grade two arthritis. Eighteen patients had grade three arthritis, which is more severe.
The researchers followed these patients for an average of 56 months. That is almost five years. This gives us a good idea of how well the replacement works over time.
What Did Researchers Find About Movement and Strength?
Here is where it gets interesting. The researchers measured different things to see how well patients could use their thumbs after surgery.
Thumb Movement
Research shows that patients could move their thumbs quite well after the surgery. They could spread their thumb away from their hand at an angle of about 53 degrees. This was 89% as much as their other hand that did not have surgery.
The researchers also used something called the Kapandji score. This measures how well you can touch your thumb to different parts of your hand. The average score was 9.5 out of 10. This was 98% as good as the other hand. That is very close to normal.
Strength
Strength did not come back quite as much as movement. Key pinch measures how hard you can pinch something between your thumb and finger. According to this study, patients had about 79% of the pinch strength of their other hand.
Grip strength measures how hard you can squeeze your whole hand. Patients got back about 81% of the grip strength compared to their other hand.
You may be wondering why strength does not come back as much as movement. This is normal after this type of surgery. The joint may move well, but the muscles need time to get stronger. Some weakness may remain.
| What Was Measured | Result | Compared to Other Hand |
|---|---|---|
| Thumb movement (radial abduction) | 53 degrees | 89% |
| Kapandji score (opposition) | 9.5 out of 10 | 98% |
| Key pinch strength | 4.7 kg | 79% |
| Grip strength | 8 kg | 81% |
How Happy Were Patients After Surgery?
Let us look closer at how patients felt about their results. Patient satisfaction is very important. After all, the goal of surgery is to help you feel better and do more.
Studies indicate that patients rated their satisfaction with the surgery as 8.8 out of 10. That is quite high. Most people were pleased with how things turned out.
The researchers also used a questionnaire called the qDASH. This stands for Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand. It asks questions about how much trouble you have doing everyday activities.
The average qDASH score was 25.8. This means patients still had some difficulty with daily activities, but many things were easier than before surgery.
What Problems Happened?
No surgery is perfect. Some patients had problems that needed attention. According to this study, 13.6% of patients needed another operation. That means three out of the 22 patients.
Two patients had dislocations. This means the artificial joint came apart and the parts separated. One patient had loosening of the part that sits in the wrist bone. When this happens, the implant does not stay firmly in place.
The good news is that there were no infections. Infection is always a worry with any surgery that puts something artificial into your body. In this study, all patients avoided that problem.
Research shows that the implant survival rate was 86.4% after five years. This means that 86 out of 100 people still had their original implant working well after five years. The rest needed some kind of revision surgery.
The researchers mentioned that this surgery has a learning curve. This means it takes practice for surgeons to get really good at it. As more surgeons gain experience, results may improve even more.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you have thumb arthritis that does not get better with other treatments, thumb joint replacement might be an option. This study shows that many patients do well with this type of surgery.
Most patients in this study got good movement back in their thumbs. They were able to do more with their hands. Most were happy with the results.
But it is important to know that problems can happen. Some people need another surgery. Strength may not come back completely.
Talk to your doctor about whether this surgery is right for you. Ask about their experience with this procedure. Ask what results they have seen in their own patients.
About This Site
This website helps people understand medical research about thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. We read published scientific articles and explain them in simple language. Everything we share comes from real studies done by doctors and researchers. We do not make up facts or give personal medical advice. We simply make science easier to understand. Feel free to explore more articles on our site to learn about other treatments and research.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a thumb joint replacement last?
According to this study, the implant survival rate was 86.4% after five years. This means most replacements were still working well at that time. However, some patients needed another surgery due to problems like dislocation or loosening.
Will I get all my thumb strength back after surgery?
Research shows that patients recovered about 79% of their pinch strength and 81% of their grip strength compared to their other hand. Most people do not get back 100% of their strength, but many find the improvement helpful for daily activities.
What are the chances of needing another surgery?
Studies indicate that 13.6% of patients in this research needed another operation. This was due to complications like the joint coming apart or the implant loosening. Most patients did not have these problems.
Is thumb joint replacement surgery right for everyone with thumb arthritis?
This surgery is usually considered when other treatments like medicine, splints, and therapy do not help enough. Your doctor will look at how severe your arthritis is and how much it affects your life. They will discuss whether surgery is a good choice for you.
Conclusion
Thumb joint replacement with the Maïa prosthesis can help many people with severe thumb arthritis. According to this study, most patients were satisfied with their results. They got good thumb movement back and could do more activities.
The surgery does have risks. Some people need another operation. But for many patients, the benefits outweigh the problems.
If your thumb pain is stopping you from doing things you love, talk to your doctor. Ask about all your options. Learn about the risks and benefits of each treatment. Together, you can make the best choice for your situation.
Remember that every person is different. What works well for one person may not be the best choice for another. Take time to understand your options and ask questions.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. It does not replace the advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Always talk to a qualified medical professional about your specific condition and treatment options. Do not make medical decisions based only on what you read online.
Scientific Source
Study Citation: Correia, Guilherme; Ribeiro, Elisabete; Correia, Rodrigo; Ribau, Melanie; Varanda, Pedro; Ribeiro, Juvenália; Rodrigues, Luís Filipe (2024). Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthroplasty: Medium-Term Clinical Outcomes and Survival. Cureus.
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.72888
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