Functional outcome of ligament reconstruction tendon interposition for basal joint arthritis of thumb

Abstract

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis is a common disease, affecting up to 11% and 53% of men and women in their 50s respectively, which leads to pain, stiffness, weakness of the CMC joint. Patients with advanced disease have multiple surgical options including ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition, resection arthroplasty, silicone implantation, or total joint arthroplasty. The aim of study was to evaluate results of LRTI for CMC joint arthritis.<strong><em> </em></strong></p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a series of 29 patients operated in a tertiary care hospital. All patients included in the study were seen in the outpatient and identified to have basal joint arthritis according to their clinical presentation and classified on the basis of radiologic appearance. Trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition was done for patients with advanced disease. All the patients were followed up and assessed for function and disability using DASH score.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Average duration of follow up was 36 months with average tip pinch strength gain was 75%, key pinch strength gain 80% , grip strength gain 80 % of other limb. Significant Improvement in active 1<sup>st</sup> web space angle was seen with average of 19.5 degree. Average DASH score was 4.14. Nobody had extreme pain, 3 had mild pain and 2 had moderate pain.<strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: Based on our observation of DASH scores, the results have remained encouraging in most of the cases with restoration of normal anatomy to provide a stable and functional thumb. The success of LRTI in treating trapeziometacarpal arthritis has withstood the test of time.<strong></strong></p>