Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthrodesis Using a Cannulated Compression Screw and Locking Plate Construct

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Hand Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Trapeziometacarpal (TMC) arthrodesis is a surgical option for basal joint osteoarthritis, often indicated for high-demand patients.
• This procedure has a notable complication rate, including nonunion and symptomatic hardware.
• Improvements in surgical techniques for TMC joint fusion are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel surgical construct for TMC joint arthrodesis.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this new fusion technique.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 10 patients who underwent TMC joint arthrodesis using a novel headless screw and low-profile locking plate construct.
• Data collected included patient demographics, pain scores, and radiographic outcomes.
• Follow-up occurred between June 2019 and February 2021.

Main Results:

• The average patient age was 56.5 years, with 70% females.
• Mean pain scores significantly decreased from 7.2 preoperatively to 1.6 postoperatively.
• All 10 patients achieved bony union, with no hardware removal required.

Conclusions:

• The novel TMC arthrodesis technique demonstrated favorable outcomes in a small patient cohort.
• This technique may offer an improved option for managing basal joint osteoarthritis, addressing concerns of nonunion and hardware complications.