Effect of coexistent scaphotrapezoidal osteoarthrosis on outcome after trapeziectomy

Scaphotrapezoidal osteoarthrosis can cause persistent pain after trapeziectomy. It has previously been recommended that the scaphotrapezoidal joint should be resected at the time of trapeziectomy to avoid this complication if radiographs show evidence of joint degeneration. We have reviewed the records of 77 patients who had 87 trapeziectomies and assessed their radiographs for the presence and degree of osteoarthrosis. There was evidence of scaphotrapezoidal osteoarthrosis in almost half of the hands. Its presence, however, had no influence on subjective or objective measures of pain, function or power before or after operation, or on outcome. Only one patient required resection of the scaphotrapezoidal joint because of persistent pain. Resection of the joint cannot be recommended as a routine adjunct to trapeziectomy on radiological evidence alone.