What are the Types of Surgeries for Thumb Arthritis?

Thumb arthritis is an inflammatory condition that usually arises from the wear and tear of cartilage in the thumb base joint, causing the bones to rub against one another. This disorder is also referred to as basal thumb arthritis or thumb basal joint arthritis. If non-surgical therapy methods do not work, your doctor may suggest surgery to fix the joint and ease pain. This blog will discuss the types of surgeries for thumb arthritis to help you make an informed decision.

Types of Surgeries for Thumb Arthritis

There’s not only one surgery option for your thumb arthritis but four. Depending on your individual requirements, a few alternatives are available to treat thumb arthritis, including:

Ligament Reconstruction

During this treatment, a portion of your wrist’s flexor tendon is used to stabilize your thumb joint. It is used when looseness in the joint is the cause of thumb arthritis rather than cartilage loss.

Ligament reconstruction does not stop or correct tissue deterioration, but it can help keep the thumb joint intact for a while.

Pros: the majority of people with very early stage arthritis get decent to very good pain alleviation from this surgery.

Cons: While the surgery stabilizes the joint, it does not restore the bone or damaged cartilage.

Hematoma and Distraction Arthroplasty

In this procedure, your doctor will remove the wrist’s trapezium bone and temporarily immobilize the thumb with a wire. The wire will be taken out after six weeks.

Pros: The majority of patients get total pain alleviation, stronger grips, and improved general function.

Cons: It has been reported that removing trapezium might result in some side effects.

Arthroplasty

Similar to a hip or knee replacement, an artificial implant is used to replace the injured thumb joint, either entirely or partially. Certain implants are inserted without removing the trapezium, maintaining healthy tissue, increasing strength, and offering alternatives in case further treatment is required.

Pros: Thumb arthroplasty is a less invasive procedure with quicker recovery and healing periods.

Cons: Spacers can have a high risk of complications for certain patients.

Arthrodesis

The procedure of joining bones is called arthrodesis. Your thumb joint’s bones are fitted into one another by a surgeon and secured with a metal pin. The fragments will eventually fuse together due to fresh bone development.

Pros: Arthrodesis results in a stable, pain-free thumb with pinching and grasping ability.

Cons: The treatment may sometimes cause loss of mobility.

Final Say!

There are many different types of surgeries for thumb arthritis. Regardless of whichever procedure you choose to treat your thumb arthritis, your hand will need time to recover. Your doctor will provide you with comprehensive instructions to ensure your safety and speedy recovery.

If you wish to get more details on the treatment options for thumb arthritis, visit us at Rheumatology Care of North Houston. Book your appointment by calling us at (832) 532-9779.