Surgical Treatment for Thumb CMC Joint Arthritis

Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint arthritis is a common and debilitating condition. The mainstay of treatment is conservative management. Surgery is only indicated following failure of a prolonged and comprehensive trial of nonoperative treatment. Once surgery has been designated, an array of surgical alternatives exist, all of which provide specific benefits and disadvantages. The different surgical options and their results are reviewed. The specific surgery will vary depending on the surgeon`s experience and preference taking into account the patient`s specific needs. The most commonly performed operative management at this time consists of trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction, but most procedures can produce high patient satisfaction and in general, the results of surgical treatment are good.