Trapeziectomy and Alternative Suspension Technique in Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthritis: Patient-Reported Outcome Measures

PURPOSE: For treatment of carpometacarpal thumb joint osteoarthritis, a trapeziectomy with an alternative suspension technique can be performed as the primary surgery or as the secondary after a failed primary surgery. This study evaluates the midterm follow-up (median, 54 months) for this technique using patient-reported outcome measures. METHODS: After trapeziectomy, an alternative suspension technique is performed with a flexor carpi radialis tendon strip. Leaving the insertion intact, the strip is tunneled through a drill hole in the base of the first metacarpal and then through a drill hole in the second metacarpal neck and then sutured back onto itself. This suspends the first metacarpal to the shaft of the second metacarpal, creating a strong, V-shaped suspension. As the technique is performed in both the primary and secondary surgery, we analyzed both groups separately. As the primary outcome, we evaluated pain and function with the Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation. Further, we evaluated the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand and Short Form 12 questionnaire scores from eligible patients. Finally, we correlated pain and function to quality of life. RESULTS: The median Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation score was 16.0 (interquartile range, 1.5–40.4) after the primary surgery and 46 (interquartile range, 34.0–75.5) after the secondary surgery. Patients after the primary surgery also scored better on the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire compared to patients after the secondary surgery. The Short Form 12 questionnaire physical scores were negatively correlated with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire scores for the primary group (correlation coefficient, −0.468) and negatively correlated with the Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation pain scores for the secondary group (correlation coefficient, −0.703). CONCLUSIONS: Trapeziectomy with this alternative suspension technique for treatment of carpometacarpal thumb joint osteoarthritis shows good patient-reported outcome measures for primary surgery and poor patient-reported outcome measures after the secondary surgery. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.