Suspension Arthroplasty Combined with Ligament Reconstruction of the Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint to Salvage Two Failed Arthroplasties: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION: Thumb basal joint arthroplasty with removal of the entire trapezium is often followed by proximal subsidence and impingement of the thumb metacarpal to the scaphoid, which is a common cause of post-operative thumb pain. Treatment of this impingement is a challenge among surgeons. We performed suspension arthroplasty combined with intercarpal ligament reconstruction using a strip of the extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) tendon on a patient suffering from pain caused by this type of the impingement and obtained a successful outcome. CASE REPORT: We treated a 52-year-old female pianist who complained of pain in her left thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. She had undergone two previous ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition arthroplasty procedures on the joint, for which strips of the flexor carpi radialis tendon and the abductor pollicis longus tendon were used in the first and second operations, respectively. The pre-operative X-ray demonstrated proximal subsidence and impingement of the first metacarpal on the scaphoid. We performed suspension arthroplasty combined with intercarpal ligament reconstruction using a strip of the ECRL tendon to create the trapezial space. 3 years after surgery, despite the 3 mm subsidence of the thumb compared with immediately after surgery, her thumb pinch and grip strength had improved, and the thumb basal pain was relieved. CONCLUSION: This case shows that suspension arthroplasty with intermetacarpal ligament reconstruction using an ECRL strip can be applied in revision surgery for impingement of the first metacarpal with the scaphoid following thumb CMC joint arthroplasty after removal of the entire trapezium. This is the first report to describe the treatment of first metacarpal impingement after CMC joint arthroplasty using suspension arthroplasty combined with intercarpal ligament reconstruction.