Early failures with a spheric interposition arthroplasty of the thumb basal joint.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to report the early results with the Orthosphere (Wright Medical Technology Inc, Arlington, TN) spheric interpositional arthroplasty.

METHODS: Six women and 1 man had Orthosphere arthroplasty between 2000 and 2001. The mean age at the time of surgery was 52 years (range, 24-73 years) and the mean duration of clinical and radiographic follow-up evaluation was 33 months (range, 29-44 months).

RESULTS: Six of 7 Orthosphere implants subsided into the trapezium resulting in pain, weakness, and stiffness. There was 1 implant dislocation. Five patients have had revision surgery to trapezial excision ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition arthroplasty. Of the remaining 2 patients 1 is contemplating presently revision surgery and the other is experiencing mild residual pain. No patients were satisfied completely with their Orthosphere results.

CONCLUSIONS: In our experience the early outcome of the Orthosphere interpositional arthroplasty has been unacceptable. We no longer use the device at our institutions.