Various surgical techniques were reported with excellent result for the treatment of trapeziometacarpal joint arthritis. However, the best treatment option was not defined yet.
This randomized prospective study compared the result of two surgical techniques: tendon interposition arthroplasty (64 patients) and K. wire distraction (56 patients) after trapeziectomy for stage 3 or 4 osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint.
After a mean follow-up period of 6.8 (range, 3-10) years it was possible to observe a higher rate of pain relief following trapeziectomy with K. wire suspension, but no significant differences in strength, range of motion and DASH score between the two groups. On lateral unloaded radiographs the height of the space between the base of the thumb metacarpal and the scaphoid showed a mean value of 6.5 mm for both groups; the average distance between the metacarpal base and the trapezium was not statistically significant in the two groups. Complications were observed only in patients treated with trapeziectomy and interposition arthroplasty and were represented by tendinitis of the FCR in 15% of cases.
We demonstrate that the trapezium excision and bone space distraction technique requires a smaller incision, a shorter surgical time, an easier surgical technique, and a less painful recovery, maintaining overlapping levels of functional restore.