[Treatment of thumb arthrosis using Swanson's trapezial silicone implant]

Complications related to silicone implants have been widely described since 1985. As trapezial replacement with a silicone implant constitutes our preferred treatment for osteoarthritis of the base of the thumb, we decided to evaluate our results by means of a retrospective critical study. Fifty records of patients operated or between 1975 and 1980 constitute an homogeneous study group as all were operated according to the same technique and by the same surgeon. Seven cases of implant instability have led us to modify our fixation technique. The results in terms of mobility, stability and pain relief are good and comparable to other published series. Only two cases presented bony changes around the implant but they both existed before surgery. Our conclusion is that trapezial resection with replacement by a silicone implant can still be recommended as elective treatment for CMC thumb osteoarthritis because of its simplicity effectiveness and reversibility.