CURRENT STATUS OF METACARPOPHALANGEAL ARTHROPLASTY AND BASILAR JOINT ARTHROPLASTY OF THE THUMB

Implant arthroplasty of the metacarpophalangeal joint is primarily ind icated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The concept of replacing the digital metacarpophalangeal joint is relatively new. Prior to the first prosthetic replacement for the destroyed metacarpophalangeal jo int in 1959, the use of various soft-tissue interposition techniques h ad been reported and subsequently have been abandoned. Using concepts that have been successful in the hip and knee, surface replacement imp lants for the digital metacarpophalangeal joint have been developed th at closely approximate the anatomy of the metacarpal head and proximal phalangeal base. Early results have been promising.