Minimum 10-year clinical and radiological follow-up of trapeziectomy with interposition or suspensionplasty for basal thumb arthritis.

HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this article is to analyze clinical and radiological outcomes of trapeziectomy performed for basal thumb arthritis after a minimum follow-up of 10 years to gain further insight from shorter and medium-term studies reporting satisfactory evolution.

METHODS: We reviewed 67 trapeziectomies, operated on by the same senior surgeon after a minimum follow-up of 10 years. The sample included 16 cases of suspensionplasty and 51 interpositions. Clinical outcome evaluated strength, pain, joint amplitude, Kapandji opposition score, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, complications and revision surgery. Radiological evaluation criteria included osteoarthritis and collapse of the trapezial void.

RESULTS: After a 10-year follow-up, clinical results remained stable despite radiological degradations. Long-term clinical outcomes of trapeziectomy for basal thumb arthritis are very positive, with interpositioning as an isolated procedure appearing, clinically, to be the preferred treatment despite greater radiological degradation when compared to suspensionplasty.

CONCLUSION: In addition to offering insight into minimum 10-year follow-up, this study also pinpoints this paradoxical dissociation of clinical-radiological outcomes.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic III.