title: Fusion of the first metacarpotrapezial joint for degenerative arthritis.
abstract: During a twelve-year period, twenty-eight patients (thirty thumbs) were treated for painful idiopathic arthritis of the metacarpotrapezial joint of the thumb by fusion. Failure of fusion occurred in two thumbs, and in both instances a solid fusion followed a second procedure. Fusion of the metacarpotrapezial joint did not predispose to painful arthritis of the trapezioscaphoid joint, even in patients with pre-existing roentgenographic evidence of minor degenerative changes in this joint. The results after long-term follow-up were gratifying, the patients having painless and stable thumbs with excellent strength. Although patients noted a minor loss of thumb motion, they did not consider this a problem. Fusion is a satisfactory procedure for patients who need or desire a strong, painless thumb, and seems especially worth while in the dominant thumb when both thumbs require surgical treatment.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D011859:Radiography; D013933:Thumb / Q000601:surgery*