[Abductor pollicis longus-repair in treating basal thumb joint arthrosis]

Between 1987 and 1990, we operated 32 hands of 30 patients for basal joint arthrosis. After extirpation of the trapezium, a part of the abductor pollicis longus is pulled through and wrapped around the flexor carpi radialis, similar to the Lundborg method. This creates a tendinous web, which supports the first metacarpal bone. Patient assessment revealed good to very good results with only one dissatisfied patient; the objective evaluation showed two thirds good and one third poor results, comparable to those of alternative methods of creation of a tendon web with the flexor carpi radialis (Weilby) or the extensor carpi radialis longus (Necking and Eiken). The essential point is a permanent distance between the base of the first metacarpal bone and both the scaphoid and the base of the second metacarpal bone under normal conditions as well as under loading.