A registry based analysis of the patient reported outcome after surgery for trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis

The aim of the study was to evaluate patient reported outcome measures (PROM) before and after trapeziectomy with or without ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition for trapeziometacarpal joint arthritis with special focus on possible differences due to gender, age and surgical method.

Data from the Swedish quality registry for hand surgery (HAKIR) was analyzed preoperatively, 3 months and 1 year postoperatively for 1850 patients (mean age 63 years, 79% women).

One year postoperatively, mean pain at rest was reduced from 50 to 12 of maximum 100. However, pain on load and weakness had not abated to the same extent (mean 30 and 34 of 100, respectively). The mean improvement in PROM did not differ between age groups or gender. The result was similar after trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (86% of the patients) and simple trapeziectomy but few patients were operated with the latter method.

Pain on load and weakness remains to some extent 1 year after surgery for trapeziometacarpal joint arthritis. The result is similar after trapeziectomy with or without ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition and the same improvement can be expected after surgery regardless of age and gender.