OBJECTIVE To investigate whether bilateral deep tissue pressure hyperalgesia exists in individuals with unilateral thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis (CMC OA). METHODS A total of 32 patients with CMC OA (29 females and 3 males, aged 69-90 years old) and 32 healthy matched controls (29 females and 3 males, aged 70-90 years) were recruited. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were bilaterally ass...

Hand dysfunction is commonly linked to ligamentous laxity (Murray 2006). The carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ) of the thumb may be particularly susceptible to weakened ligamentous constraints in the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (Moore et al 1985). Symptoms may only present if the joint has been subject to excessive trauma, overuse or misuse and thus strains of the surrounding muscles and ligaments may hav...

A 30-year-old man was referred to us with carpometacarpal joint dislocation of the thumb and fracture of the trapezium. The lesion was managed with closed reduction and percutaneous insertion of pin, resulting in good functional outcome.

INTRODUCTION "On-top" and "side-to-side" plasties are techniques used for treating thumb duplications in which one thumb is adequate proximally and the other thumb contains a better pulp and nail distally. The detailed functional results of these techniques have not been reported in the literature. We report on two cases. PRESENTATION OF CASES The first case had Wassel type VI duplication. Th...

This case report discusses the reconstruction of an entire thumb metacarpal after a diagnosis of giant cell tumor of bone. The patient underwent excision of the entire thumb metacarpal, followed by interposition of a tricortical iliac crest bone graft and metacarpophalangeal and carpometacarpal joint arthrodeses. This option allowed salvage of the patient's native thumb with functional use as a...

The movement patterns one sees when loads placed on a joint are incrementally increased provides valuable insight as to how a joint functions during different everyday activities. This author describes a simple, yet effective method of assessing the thumb carpometacarpal joint as load demands increase. It may be used as an evaluative tool or as an adjunct to treatment.