Abductor pollicis longus tendon interposition arthroplasty for carpometacarpal osteoarthritis of the thumb

Thirty-eight thumbs in 35 patients with painful osteoarthritis of the thumb basal joint were treated by trapezium excision and abductor pollicis longu s tendon interposition arthroplasty. Long-term results were obtained from a ll patients by subjective evaluation and 29 patients were re-examined 1 to 11 years after surgery (mean, 6 years). The overall result was excellent or good in 79% of the cases and 76% of the patients reported good or excellen t pain relief. In 6 cases (16%) surgery provided no improvement. The range of shortening of the first ray was from 2 to 10 mm (mean, 7 mm). Grip and p inch strengths were measured, but the results were variable and consequentl y not informative. On the basis of our results we recommend abductor pollic is longus tendon interposition arthroplasty for the treatment of osteoarthr itis of the thumb basal joint. Copyright (C) 1999 by the American Society f or Surgery of the Hand.