Resection arthroplasty at the basilar joint of the thumb

Resection arthroplasty at the base of the thumb has a long history in the surgical literature. It is a less complex procedure than other operative approaches; pain relief along with useful hand function is reliably achieved. Sixty-six trapezial resection arthroplasties using either a tendon or Gelfoam spacer (The Upjohn Co, Kalamazoo, MI) were reviewed with improvement noted in 62 patients.