title: Arthroscopic debridement and visco-supplementation: a minimally invasive treatment for symptomatic osteoarthritis involving the base of the thumb.
abstract: Symptomatic osteoarthritis of the base of the thumb is a common malady and is responsible for significant morbidity. This report describes a minimally invasive technique combining arthroscopic debridement and intraarticular visco-supplementation in patients who do not respond to more conservative measures. Eleven patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint not responding to antiinflammatory medications, injections, and splinting underwent arthroscopic debridement and intraarticular visco-supplementation. Using pain relief as a measure of success, 5 patients had excellent results, 4 patients had good results, and 2 patients had poor results. There were no complications. This procedure may provide a bridge between more conservative palliative therapies and the much more invasive open hand procedures currently being performed for this problem.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Division, The Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA. aocm@erols.com
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Sheila K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Delauter
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: J Beard