To present our surgical technique and results for the treatment of posttraumatic arthritis of the little finger carpometacarpal (CMC) joint.
We performed a retrospective review of 3 patients who underwent our surgical technique. All patients had previously sustained intra-articular fractures of the base of the little finger metacarpal and presented with painful posttraumatic arthritis of the fifth metacarpal-hamate joint. Patients were treated with little finger CMC arthroplasty and extensor carpi ulnaris suspensionplasty.
We observed the 3 patients in the office over a mean of 21 months and by telephone for a mean for 51 months postoperatively. They had improvements in wrist motion and grip strength. Finger motion remained stable. Pain and tenderness at the little finger CMC joint were eliminated.
Therapeutic IV.
Our technique provided satisfactory pain relief and motion preservation for posttraumatic arthritis of the little finger CMC joint.