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Joint distraction for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: a feasibility study with 1-year follow-up
Anne J Spaans1,2, L Paul van Minnen3, Assa Braakenburg1
1a Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery , St Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein/Utrecht , The Netherlands.
Objective:
The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of joint distraction of the first carpometacarpal (CMC1) joint in patients with CMC1 osteoarthritis (OA).
Methods:
An external joint distractor was placed over the CMC1 joint by K-wire fixation in the trapezium and the metacarpal. The joint was distracted 3 mm during surgery. The device was then kept in place for 8 weeks. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire (MHQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and grip strength were recorded preoperatively and at set postoperative intervals.
Results:
Five female patients with an average age of 53 years (range = 41-61) were included. One year postoperatively, average DASH, MHQ, and VAS scores improved compared to preoperative values; DASH 53 to 27, MHQ 48 to 76, and VAS pain 48 to 14. There were no technical problems associated with the device. One patient had a local pin site infection treated successfully with oral antibiotics.
Conclusions:
This study concludes that joint distraction of the osteoarthritic CMC1 joint is technically feasible. In this small, prospective pilot study the majority of the results were favourable during short-term follow-up.
