Trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty. A clinical review

Silicone implants for the damaged trapeziometacarpal joint have been used for over 15 years. Relief of pain has been significant with increasing grip and pinch strengths reported for up to one year following arthroplasty. Three problems remain with the use of these implants: instability, deformation and implant failure, and more recently reported, silicone synovitis. Silicone synovitis is such a major concern that surgeons are now using allograft or autograft tendon as a spacer when resection arthroplasty of the trapezium is required.