Arthrodesis of the first carpometacarpal joint. 33 cases of arthrosis

Thirty-three arthrodeses were performed for arthrosis of the first carpometacarpal joint in 29 patients. The patients were reexamined 5 (2-10) years after the operation. Twenty arthrodeses were clinically satisfactory, although two had failed to unite. Analysis of this group showed that a painless stiff carpometacarpal joint causes some functional impairment, considered negligible by most patients. The remaining 13 cases were unsatisfactory due to pain caused by arthrosis in the peritrapezoidal joints (7 cases), nonunion (4), radial nerve neuroma (1), and unknown reason (1).