OSTEOTOMY VERSUS TENDON ARTHROPLASTY IN TRAPEZIOMETACARPAL ARTHROSIS - 17 PATIENTS FOLLOWED FOR 1 YEAR

We evaluated 2 consecutive cohorts of patients with primary trapeziome tacarpal arthrosis 1 year after either first metacarpal osteotomy or t rapezial excision with abductor pollicis longus tendon arthroplasty. A t follow-up, 4 of 7 patients treated with osteotomy had pain at rest a nd/or with light activities and were dissatisfied with the results of surgery, all 4 had advanced (stage III) preoperative trapeziometacarpa l arthrosis. 1 of 10 patients (5 having stage ill arthrosis) treated w ith abductor pollicis longus arthroplasty had pain with light activiti es, and no patient was dissatisfied. Our findings indicate that first metacarpal osteotomy as a surgical option in trapeziometacarpal arthro sis should be limited to patients with early disease.