title: Autologous Fat Transfer for Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most operations for carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis of the thumb irreversibly alter or destroy the anatomy. There is a high demand for minimally invasive alternatives. The authors report the results of autologous fat transfer for treatment of thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, 50 patients with thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis were observed for 1 year after autologous fat transfer. Manual liposuction and centrifugation were performed. Pain rating according to visual analogue pain scale; objective force of pinch grip and fist closure; and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire scores before and after treatment were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average pain in stage 2 patients preoperatively was 7.7 ± 1.3; it was 1.8 ± 1.9 after 6 months and 2.4 ± 3.1 after 12 months. Patients with stage 2 osteoarthritis demonstrated a superior benefit from this treatment compared with patients with either stage 3 or stage 4 thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. There were similar improvements for the parameters strength and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire score. No serious adverse events were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autologous fat transplantation is an appealing alternative, especially in early-stage basal joint osteoarthritis of the thumb. The low invasiveness of the procedure and early recovery of patients compared with classical procedures such as trapeziectomy, and the superior long-term results compared with classical injection therapy, make this approach feasible as a first-line therapy in early-stage basal joint osteoarthritis of the thumb.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, IV.
authors.affiliation: Hameln, Leverkusen, and Oldenburg, Germany.|From the Department of Plastic, Aesthetic Surgery, and Hand Surgery, Sana Klinikum Hameln Pyrmont; Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic, Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, Klinikum Leverkusen; and the Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie/Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Klinikum Oldenburg.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.affiliation: Hameln, Leverkusen, and Oldenburg, Germany.|From the Department of Plastic, Aesthetic Surgery, and Hand Surgery, Sana Klinikum Hameln Pyrmont; Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic, Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, Klinikum Leverkusen; and the Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie/Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Klinikum Oldenburg.
authors.forename: Hans-Oliver
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Rennekampff
authors.affiliation: Hameln, Leverkusen, and Oldenburg, Germany.|From the Department of Plastic, Aesthetic Surgery, and Hand Surgery, Sana Klinikum Hameln Pyrmont; Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic, Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, Klinikum Leverkusen; and the Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie/Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Klinikum Oldenburg.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Groddeck
authors.affiliation: Hameln, Leverkusen, and Oldenburg, Germany.|From the Department of Plastic, Aesthetic Surgery, and Hand Surgery, Sana Klinikum Hameln Pyrmont; Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic, Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, Klinikum Leverkusen; and the Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie/Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Klinikum Oldenburg.
authors.forename: Sixtus
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allert
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D064592:Autografts; D052737:Carpometacarpal Joints; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013933:Thumb