STABILIZED RESECTION ARTHROPLASTY BY AN ANTERIOR APPROACH IN TRAPEZIOMETACARPAL ARTHRITIS - RESULTS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Resection arthroplasties were performed through a carpal tunnel incisi on in 72 hands of 57 patients with trapeziometacarpal joint arthritis and coexistent pathology of the anterior hand or wrist. Sixty-nine han ds were followed for an average of 44 (range, 12-74 months). Pain reli ef was excellent in 60 hands, good in 7, and fair in 2, and thumb moti on was satisfactory in 64 hands. Mean strength increase was 30%. Scaph ometacarpal space loss was 0.5 mm each year, and residual space averag ed 3.1 mm at 60 months. There were two failures. The study corroborate d the frequent coexistence of other pathology of the anterior area of the hand and wrist, specifically, carpal tunnel syndrome and flexor ca rpi radialis tenosynovitis. Furthermore, it demonstrated the possibili ty of an anterior approach to treat these conditions via the same inci sion. After 5 years, functional results remained good despite progress ive collapse of the scaphometacarpal space.