Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026
Novel Triple-Loop Technique for Suturing TFCC Injuries without Transosseous Tunnel
Published on: May 23, 2025
Comparison of arthroplasties with or without bone tunnel creation for thumb basal joint arthritis: a randomized
Guus M Vermeulen1, Kim R Spekreijse1, Harm Slijper1
1Department of Hand and Wrist Surgery, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht; Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rotterdam; Xpert Clinic Hilversum, Hilversum, The Netherlands.
Purpose:
To compare the results for treatment of basal thumb osteoarthritis with and without the use of a bone tunnel at the base of the first metacarpal.
Methods:
Women aged 40 years or older with stage IV osteoarthritis were randomized to 1 of 2 treatments. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 3 and 12 months by assessing pain, outcome function measures, range of motion, strength, time to return to work or activities, satisfaction with the results, and complication rate.
Results:
A total of 79 patients were enrolled in this study. Three months after surgery, Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation pain and total scores were significantly improved in the bone tunnel group compared with the tunnel-free group. At 12 months, however, we found no significant differences for all outcome scores between groups. In addition, we observed no significant differences between groups in strength, duration to return to work or activities, patient satisfaction, and complication rates.
Conclusions:
After the bone tunnel technique, patients have better function and less pain 3 months after surgery than do those in the non-bone tunnel group, which indicates faster recovery. However, 12 months after surgery, the functional outcome was similar. Because of faster recovery, we prefer the bone tunnel technique in the treatment of stage IV osteoarthritis.
Type Of Study/Level Of Evidence:
Therapeutic I.
