[Dealing with Rhizarthrosis by Means of Arthrodesis with Finger Micro-plate Osteosynthesis.]

The authors of the article describe possibilities of dealing with thumb CMC joint degenerative changes, concentrating on arthrodesis. They compare individual operations and refer about fixation of arthrodesis with micro plate osteosynthesis which enables early functional treatment. They perform the arthrodesis in patients with radiologically proved arthrosis, in most cases of stage III, who do not respond to conservative therapy. They state both short-term and long-term results in their own group of 18 operations (all of the operated patients state improvement of thumb function and relief of pain following the operation) and analyse reasons for failure of the technique and for the necessity of revision in 3 of them. Key words: carpo-metacarpal I. joint, arthrodesis, osteoarthritis of trapezio-metacarpal joint.