Silicone spacer or tendon spacer for trapezium resection arthroplasty--comparison of results

A comparison study was done for 25 consecutive trapeziectomies in 21 women with silicone replacements and 25 consecutive trapeziectomies in 24 women without silicone replacements who were reviewed from 1 to 9 years postoperatively. The patients, who ranged from 35 to 75 years of age, were housewives and clerical workers. All had trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis. Among the patients with silicone replacement of the trapezium, 90% reported pain relief; mean thumb abduction was 42.5 degrees, pronation was 37.5 degrees, and pinch strength averaged 5 kg. Among the patients without silicone replacement after trapeziectomy, 95% reported pain relief; mean thumb abduction was 46.8 degrees, pronation was 41.4 degrees, and pinch strength averaged 4.6 kg. For those patients with only one hand operated upon, pinch strength in that hand averaged 85% that of the opposite hand in patients with silicone trapezial replacement and 82% for those without silicone trapezial replacement. In this patient population, trapeziectomies with or without silicone replacement as treatment for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis appear to give similar results.