The carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is a common site of degenerative arthritis. Several surgical treatments exist, but arthroscopic management offers the potential benefit of earlier recovery. The current study evaluated the early clinical outcomes of a procedure involving arthroscopic hemitrapeziectomy with Artelon spacer (Artimplant, Västra Frölunda, Sweden) interposition arthroplasty into...

UNLABELLED A review of the literature was performed to design a hand exercise regimen based on biomechanical principles of the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint and the forces that act upon the joint. Sixteen biomechanical studies were included in the review: four studies developed a mathematical model of the thumb and 12 performed cadaveric dissections to study the CMC joint. Clinical application of...

The carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is the second most common site of arthritis in the hand. Patients in whom conservative treatment fails benefit from surgical intervention, although no consensus exists as to the best method to provide maximum pain relief and functional outcomes. The pathophysiology of carpometacarpal arthritis is loss of the integrity of the palmar oblique ligament, which ...

Pollicization substitutes a functioning finger for a deficient thumb. The most indication is thumb hypoplasia with absence or instability of the carpometacarpal joint. However, there are additional causes that may negate thumb function, such as trauma, macrodactyly, multi-fingered hand, and a mirror hand. The technique of pollicization represents a consolidation of contributions from surgeons o...

This article covers new and emerging techniques in small joint arthroscopy in the hand. Recent improvement in the quality of small joint scopes and advancement in techniques have allowed for many new small joint arthroscopic procedures in the hand. The arthroscopic classification for thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthritis as well as treatment of each stage are described. Arthroscopic treatment o...