Early failures with a spheric interposition arthroplasty of the thumb basal joint.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to report the early results with the Orthosphere (Wright Medical Technology Inc, Arlington, TN) spheric interpositional arthroplasty.


METHODS
Six women and 1 man had Orthosphere arthroplasty between 2000 and 2001. The mean age at the time of surgery was 52 years (range, 24-73 years) and the mean duration of clinical and radiographic follow-up evaluation was 33 months (range, 29-44 months).


RESULTS
Six of 7 Orthosphere implants subsided into the trapezium resulting in pain, weakness, and stiffness. There was 1 implant dislocation. Five patients have had revision surgery to trapezial excision ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition arthroplasty. Of the remaining 2 patients 1 is contemplating presently revision surgery and the other is experiencing mild residual pain. No patients were satisfied completely with their Orthosphere results.


CONCLUSIONS
In our experience the early outcome of the Orthosphere interpositional arthroplasty has been unacceptable. We no longer use the device at our institutions.
Athwal
George S
GS
Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston; London, Ontario, Canada.
Chenkin
Jordan
J
King
Graham J
GJ
Pichora
David R
DR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D013933:Thumb / Q000601:surgery*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*