Functional outcome of trapeziometacarpal prostheses in pan-trapezial osteoarthritis

Trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis is frequently associated with scaphotrapeziotrapezoid osteoarthritis. Long-term outcomes have not been reported for trapeziometacarpal protheses in patients with radiological pan-trapezial osteoarthritis that is symptomatic only in the trapeziometacarpal compartment. The primary objective of this retrospective multicenter multi-operator study was to evaluate the effectiveness of trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty for pain relief in patients with radiographic pan-trapezial osteoarthritis without symptomatic scaphotrapeziotrapezoid involvement. A total of 70 thumbs in 67 patients were evaluated by a single independent operator at a mean follow-up of 58 months. Scaphotrapeziotrapezoid osteoarthritis severity on Crosby score was stage II in 84% of patients and stage III in 16%. Mean pain score on visual analog scale decreased from 7.7 preoperatively to 1.3 at last follow-up. There were no reoperations at last follow up. These results suggest that, in patients with radiological pan-trapezial osteoarthritis without symptomatic involvement of the scaphotrapeziotrapezoid joint, a trapeziometacarpal prothesis yields good medium-term clinical outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.