Trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis: pyrocarbon interposition implants

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomaterials science
• Hand surgery

Background:

• Trapeziometacarpal (TMC) osteoarthritis is a common condition affecting hand function.
• Interposition arthroplasty aims to restore joint function and alleviate pain.
• Pyrolitic carbon implants offer a durable and biocompatible solution for joint reconstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of interposition arthroplasty using pyrolitic carbon implants for TMC osteoarthritis.
• To compare clinical outcomes between PyroDisk and Pyrocardan implants.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study of two patient groups undergoing TMC joint arthroplasty.
• Group 1: 34 patients (36 joints) with PyroDisk implants.
• Group 2: 25 patients (25 joints) with Pyrocardan implants.
• Clinical evaluation using DASH, Mayo Wrist, and VAS pain scores.
• Level IV therapeutic case series.

Main Results:

• Both implant types demonstrated good clinical outcomes, including pain relief, improved range of motion, and enhanced pinch/grasp strength.
• Mean follow-up: 42 months (PyroDisk) and 12 months (Pyrocardan).
• Revision surgery rates were low: 2.8% (PyroDisk) and 12% (Pyrocardan).

Conclusions:

• Prosthetic replacement of the TMC joint is a viable option for low-demand patients.
• The PyroDisk implant is a suitable choice for selected patients (Eaton stage I-III, non-subluxated joints).
• PyroDisk provides sustained pain relief, good joint function, and stable results over three years.