The Artelon CMC spacer compared with tendon interposition arthroplasty: A randomized, controlled, multicenter study of 109 patients with osteoarthritis followed for 1 year

Background and purpose The Artelon CMC spacer is designed for surgical treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) in the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb (CMC-I). Good results using this degradable device were previously presented in a pilot study. We now present results from a larger randomized, controlled, multicenter study

Trigger finger: etiology, evaluation, and treatment

Trigger finger is a common finger aliment, thought to be caused by inflammation and subsequent narrowing of the A1 pulley, which causes pain, clicking, catching, and loss of motion of the affected finger. Although it can occur in anyone, it is seen more frequently in the diabetic population and in women, typically in the fifth to sixth decade of life. The diagnosis is usually fairly straightforward, as most patients complain of clicking or locking of the finger, but other pathological processes such as fracture, tumor, or other traumatic soft tissue injuries must be excluded. Treatment modalities, including splinting, corticosteroid injection, or surgical release, are very effective and are tailored to the severity and duration of symptoms

Tendon Interposition Arthroplasty of the First Carpo-Metacarpal Joint

After removal of the trapezium, imbrication of abductor pollicis longus and fixing it with a strip of flexor carpi radialis tendon, we obtained a stable arthroplasty having three quarters of normal mobility and half to full power. Of the first 100 operated thumbs, 15 patients had slight pain on heavy use; the rest were painfree. Three patients had radial nerve lesions with minor complaints. Seven patients developed de Quervain’s syndrome and two had rupture of abductor pollicis longus; these complications have since been avoided by routinely splitting the first extensor compartment. Four cases with unstable joints required further surgery, and one joint became stiff due to extra-articular conditions. </jats:p