title: Joint distraction for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: a feasibility study with 1-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of joint distraction of the first carpometacarpal (CMC1) joint in patients with CMC1 osteoarthritis (OA).
  
  
  METHODS
  An external joint distractor was placed over the CMC1 joint by K-wire fixation in the trapezium and the metacarpal. The joint was distracted 3 mm during surgery. The device was then kept in place for 8 weeks. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire (MHQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and grip strength were recorded preoperatively and at set postoperative intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five female patients with an average age of 53 years (range = 41-61) were included. One year postoperatively, average DASH, MHQ, and VAS scores improved compared to preoperative values; DASH 53 to 27, MHQ 48 to 76, and VAS pain 48 to 14. There were no technical problems associated with the device. One patient had a local pin site infection treated successfully with oral antibiotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study concludes that joint distraction of the osteoarthritic CMC1 joint is technically feasible. In this small, prospective pilot study the majority of the results were favourable during short-term follow-up.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery , St Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein/Utrecht , The Netherlands.|b Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery , Universital Medical Center Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anne J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Spaans
authors.affiliation: c Department of Plastic Surgery , Royal Adelaide Hospital , Adelaide , Australia.
authors.forename: L Paul van
authors.initials: LPV
authors.lastname: Minnen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery , St Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein/Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Assa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Braakenburg
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery , St Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein/Utrecht , The Netherlands.|b Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery , Universital Medical Center Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Aebele B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Mink van der Molen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D052737:Carpometacarpal Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013933:Thumb / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: CMC 1; Carpometacarpal; joint distraction; osteoarthritis; trapeziometacarpal; treatment