[Trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis. Overall functional hand assessment]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Hand Surgery
• Degenerative Joint Disease

Context:

• Trapeziometacarpal arthrosis is a common degenerative condition, especially in postmenopausal women.
• The male:female ratio is 1:10, with 33% of patients experiencing bilateral symptoms.
• This retrospective study analyzed 18 patients undergoing trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the outcomes of trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis in patients with primary or post-traumatic arthrosis.
• To assess surgical techniques, operative time, and complication rates.
• To determine the effectiveness of arthrodesis for pain relief and functional recovery.

Summary:

• The study included 18 patients (12 female, 6 male) with a mean age of 49.3 years, diagnosed with primary or post-traumatic trapeziometacarpal arthrosis.
• Arthrodesis was performed using nails (66.7%) or condylar plates (33.3%), with a mean operative time of 52.8 minutes.
• Complications included pseudoarthrosis in 11.1% of patients, requiring revision surgery in some cases.

Impact:

• Trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis offers significant pain relief and is a viable option for patients requiring return to forceful activities.
• Understanding complication rates, such as pseudoarthrosis, is crucial for surgical planning and patient counseling.
• Further long-term follow-up is needed to fully ascertain the long-term course and success of trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis.