Proplast stabilized stemless trapezium implant

Forty-five stemless Proplast-covered silicone rubber trapezium implants were used in 40 patients after trapeziectomy for either osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or trauma. Three implants were later removed from two patients because of traumatic dislocations. One implant was removed from a patient after trauma because of persistent pain. Five patients were followed from 40 to 44 months; nine patients were followed from 31 to 39 months; 15 patients were followed from 20 to 29 months; six patients were followed from 14 to 19 months; five patients were followed from 6 to 9 months. The average follow-up time was 24 7/10 months. Before surgery 5% of the patients had continuous spontaneous pain, 35% of the patients had pain with all motion, and 60% of the patients had pain with limited normal daily use. At this time of our report, 65% of the patients are without symptoms, 21% of the patients have slight intermittent pain, and 14% of the patients have pain with strenuous use only. Tripod pinch improved 243% in male patients and 113% in female patients. All patients have good circumduction and metacarpophalangeal (MP) and interphalangeal (IP) joint motion. The stemless feature permits relatively free metacarpal joint motion without great stress being applied to the capsule that is covering the implant.