Development of an implantable trapezium carpal bone replacement for measuring in vivo loads at the base of the thumb.

Understanding the loads that occur across musculoskeletal joints is critical to advancing our understanding of joint function and pathology, implant design and testing, as well as model verification. Substantial work in these areas has occurred in the hip and knee but has not yet been undertaken in smaller joints, such as those in the wrist. The thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint is a uniquely human articulation that is also a common site of osteoarthritis with unknown etiology. We present two potential designs for an instrumented trapezium implant and compare approaches to load calibration. Two instrumented trapezia designs were prototyped using strain gauge technology: Tube and Diaphragm. The Tube design is a well-established structure for sensing loads while the Diaphragm is novel. Each design was affixed to a 6-DOF load cell that was used as the reference. Loads were applied manually, and two calibration methods, supervised neural network (DEEP) and matrix algebra (MAT), were implemented. Bland-Altman 95% confidence interval for the limits of agreement (95% CI LOA) was used to assess accuracy. Overall, the DEEP calibration decreased 95% CI LOA compared with the MAT approach for both designs. The Diaphragm design outperformed the Tube design in measuring the primary load vector (joint compression). Importantly, the Diaphragm design permits the hermetic encapsulation of all electronics, which is not possible with the Tube design, given the small size of the trapezium. Substantial work remains before this device can be approved for implantation, but this work lays the foundation for further device development that will be required.

Early Detection of First Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment in Women With High Hypermobility Scores.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore association between hypermobility and osteoarthritis (OA) at the first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify early change in women at high risk of developing OA but without yet established diagnoses. METHODS: For this observational study, 33 women (aged 30-50 years) with self-reported history of maternal hand OA but without personal diagnoses of OA were recruited. Participants completed a 5-point hypermobility questionnaire. The 20 participants with 2 or more positive responses were categorized with "high hypermobility scores." The remaining 13 were categorized with "low hypermobility scores." Data collection included functional index, hand pain measure, parity, smoking status, and body mass index. Each participant underwent dominant hand radiographic and MRI examination. Imaging studies were interpreted by assessors blinded to hypermobility score categorization. RESULTS: No significant differences in age, body mass index, parity, functional index, or pain scores were observed between higher and lower hypermobility score groups. Similarly, there were no significant differences between groups for radiographic changes. However, significantly higher proportions of women with higher hypermobility scores were observed on MRI to have abnormalities of trapezium cartilage (75% vs. 38%), metacarpal cartilage (80% vs. 38%), and trapezium bone (70% vs. 31%); p < 0.05 for all. CONCLUSIONS: First CMC joint structural abnormalities were more frequently observed in women with higher hypermobility scores. Identification of early preradiographic changes in this group supports the concept that early-life joint laxity may contribute to future OA predisposition. Magnetic resonance imaging may be a preferred imaging test for detection of early cartilage changes in people at high risk of CMC joint OA.

Denervation of the Joints of the Hand and Wrist: Surgical Techniques and a Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Joint denervation of the wrist, basal joint of the thumb, and the finger is an option for patients with chronic pain. Compared with other surgical treatment options, function is preserved and the rehabilitation time is limited. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed for each joint to determine whether the choice of technique and choice of denervation of specific articular sensory branches lead to a different outcome. METHODS: Embase, MEDLINE (OvidSP), Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed publisher, Cochrane, and Google Scholar database searches yielded 17 studies with reported outcome on denervation of the wrist, eight on the basal joint of the thumb, and five on finger joints. RESULTS: Overall, the level of evidence was low; only two studies included a control group, and none was randomized. Meta-analysis for pain showed a 3.3 decrease in visual analogue scale score for wrist pain. No difference was found between techniques (total versus partial denervation), nor did different approaches influence outcome. The first carpometacarpal joint showed a decrease for visual analogue scale score for pain of 5.4. Patient satisfaction with the treatment result was 83 percent and 82 percent, respectively. Reported pain in finger joints decreased 96 percent in the metacarpophalangeal joints, 81 percent in the proximal interphalangeal joint, and 100 percent in the distal interphalangeal joint. The only reported case in the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb reported an increase of 37 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Only denervation of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb reported an increase in pain; however, this was a single patient. Wrist and first carpometacarpal joint and finger joint denervation have a high satisfaction rate and decrease the pain. There was no difference between techniques.

Platelet-Rich Plasma versus Corticosteroid Intra-Articular Injections for the Treatment of Trapeziometacarpal Arthritis: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Various systematic reviews have recently shown that intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (IA-PRP) can lead to symptomatic relief of knee osteoarthritis for up to 12 months. There exist limited data on its use in small joints, such as the trapeziometacarpal joint (TMJ) or carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ) of the thumb. A prospective, randomized, blind, controlled, clinical trial of 33 patients with clinical and radiographic osteoarthritis of the TMJ (grades: I-III according to the Eaton and Littler classification) was conducted. Group A patients (16 patients) received 2 ultrasound-guided IA-PRP injections, while group B patients (17 patients) received 2 ultrasound-guided intra-articular methylprednisolone and lidocaine injections at a 2-week interval. Patients were evaluated prior to and at 3 and 12 months after the second injection using the visual analogue scale (VAS) 100/100, shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (Q-DASH), and patient's subjective satisfaction. No significant differences between the baseline clinical and demographic characteristics of the 2 groups were identified. After 12 months' follow-up, the IA-PRP treatment has yielded significantly better results in comparison with the corticosteroids, in terms of VAS score (P = 0.015), Q-DASH score (P = 0.025), and patients' satisfaction (P = 0.002). Corticosteroids offer short-term relief of symptoms, but IA-PRP might achieve a lasting effect of up to 12 months in the treatment of early to moderate symptomatic TMJ arthritis.

Psychological Characteristics, Female Sex, and Opioid Use Predict Acute Postoperative Pain in Patients Surgically Treated for Thumb Base Osteoarthritis: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear which factors predict acute postoperative pain in patients surgically treated for thumb base osteoarthritis. The authors investigated the influence of type of surgery, preoperative sociodemographics, preoperative patient-reported outcome measures, psychological characteristics, and postoperative opioid use on acute postoperative pain 24 hours postoperatively following surgery for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. In addition, preoperative and acute postoperative pain were compared. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, 215 patients surgically treated for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis were included. Data were collected in 16 clinics for hand surgery and therapy in The Netherlands. Hierarchical regression was used to identify whether type of surgery, preoperative sociodemographics, preoperative patient-reported outcome measures, psychological characteristics (including treatment credibility and expectations, illness perception, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression), and postoperative opioid use predicted acute postoperative pain 24 hours postoperatively, measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (range, 0 to 10). RESULTS: Female sex, opioid use, higher preoperative satisfaction with hand, and higher self-reported consequences and coherence predicted greater postoperative pain, with 31 percent explained variance in the final model including psychological factors. Mean postoperative Numeric Pain Rating Scale score was lower (5.1 ± 2.4) than preoperative pain, measured using visual analogue scales (during the past week, 6.7 ± 1.7; physical load, 7.5 ± 1.7) and the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (6.4 ± 1.4; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Psychological factors, female sex, and opioid use enhance the prediction of acute postoperative pain beyond surgery type, preoperative sociodemographics, and patient-reported outcome measures. Female sex and opioid use were the strongest predictors, even after controlling for psychological factors. Future studies may investigate sex-based approaches and patient education for reducing acute postoperative pain. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, II.

Painful Snapping of Thumb Caused by a Displaced Non-Union Fragment from the Trapezium: A Case Report.

There are only a few reports regarding snapping thumb caused by the pathology of the extensor tendon. We report a rare case of snapping thumb caused by a displaced non-union fragment from the trapezium in a 54-year-old man treated with the surgical resection. The intraoperative findings and the outcome are described.

Prevalence and distribution of MRI abnormalities in the articular cartilage and supporting ligaments in patients with early clinical stage first carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate where articular degeneration begins and which ligaments are most often involved in the early clinical stage first carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ-1) osteoarthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the MRI findings of 26 patients with early clinical stage CMCJ-1 osteoarthritis and no radiologic abnormalities and 19 control patients without CMCJ-1 pain or osteoarthritis who underwent MRI for dorsal or ulnar wrist pain. Two observers blinded to group and clinical findings independently assessed the presence of chondral defects in four quadrants of the CMCJ-1: volar-ulnar (VU), volar-radial (VR), dorso-ulnar (DU), and dorso-radial (DR). The integrity of the four major ligaments of the CMCJ-1, i.e., the anterior oblique ligament (AOL), the intermetacarpal ligament (IML), the posterior oblique ligament (POL), and the dorsal radial ligament (DRL), was assessed. The observer reliability was analyzed using Cohen's kappa coefficient. The prevalence of cartilage lesions and ligament abnormalities in the osteoarthritic and control patients was compared using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Cartilage lesions were significantly more common in the VU quadrant of the trapezium in the osteoarthritic patients than in the control patients (17/26 vs. 2/19; P = 0.002). AOL abnormalities were more common in the osteoarthritic patients than in the control patients (14/26 vs. 3/19; P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The MRI findings of early clinical stage CMCJ-1 osteoarthritis commonly demonstrated cartilage lesions in the VU quadrant of the trapezium and ligament abnormalities in the AOL.

Occupational load as a risk factor for clinically relevant base of thumb osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: It is postulated that increased load from pinch and grasp in occupational tasks increases the risk of thumb carpometacarpal (CMC1) osteoarthritis (OA). We sought to characterise the relationship between doctor-diagnosed CMC1 OA and occupation in a large working population. METHODS: We performed a matched case-control study using a Swedish healthcare register. We identified residents aged 30-65 years in 2013 with physician-diagnosed CMC1 OA from 1998 to 2013. We matched four controls per person with CMC1 OA by age, sex, education and postcode. Swedish Standard Classification of Occupations was used to assign occupation. Occupation was categorised as light, light-moderate, moderate and heavy labour. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate ORs with 95% CIs. RESULTS: We identified 3462 patients with CMC1 OA and matched 13 211 controls. The mean age of the CMC1 OA group was 63 (SD 7) years, with 81% women. The ORs for CMC1 OA in men were 1.31 (95% CI 0.96 to 1.79) for light-moderate, 1.76 (95% CI 1.29 to 2.40) for moderate and 2.00 (95% CI 1.59 to 2.51) for heavy compared with light work. Women had ORs for CMC1 OA of 1.46 (95% CI 1.32 to 1.61) for light-moderate, 1.27 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.46) for moderate and 1.31 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.59) for heavy compared with light work. CONCLUSIONS: The association between increased manual load in occupation and risk of CMC1 OA is more pronounced in men than in women, likely due to higher workload in the heavy labour category.

Trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition arthroplasty in a male cohort : a retrospective study.

Osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is a common disease, mostly affecting middle aged women. This article presents the results of a trapeziectomy with a ligament recontruction/tendon interposition procedure. We evaluated 60 male patients with 76 operated thumbs. The mean follow- up was 62 months (ranging from 13 to 133 months, with SD of 33 months). The outcome was measured with the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand score, a Nelson Hospital score, a Visual analogue scale score and range of motion. The preoperative height of the trapezium was measured and compared with the height of the trapezial space postoperativaly. The disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand score improved from 25.6 to 16.1. The Visual analogue scale score for pain, satisfaction, dexterity and funcion were correlated with each other. On x-ray, there was an average loss of 67% of trapezial height compared preoperativaly with postoperativaly, but no correlation was found with clinical outcome parameters.

Osteophyte growth in early thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Osteophyte formation is a critical part of the degeneration of a joint with osteoarthritis (OA). While often qualitatively described, few studies have succeeded in quantifying osteophyte growth over time. Using computed tomography (CT) image data from a longitudinal, observational study of thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) OA, our aim was to quantify osteophyte growth volume and location over a three-year period in men and women. METHOD: Ninety patients with early thumb OA were recruited and assessed at baseline, 1.5 years, and 3 years with CT imaging. Osteophyte volume and location on the trapezium and first metacarpal were determined using a library of 46 healthy subjects as a nonarthritic reference database. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in osteophyte volume for women and men over the three-year follow-up in the trapezium (86.8 mm3-120.5 mm3 and 165.1 mm3-235.3 mm3, means respectively) and in the proximal metacarpal (63 mm3-80.4 mm3, and 115.8 mm3-161.7 mm3, respectively). The location of osteophyte initiation and growth was consistent across subjects and was located in non-opposing regions on the trapezium and first metacarpal. Osteophyte growth occurred about the radial and ulnar margins of the trapezial facet, while on the proximal metacarpal, growth occurred principally about the volar and dorsal margins of the facet. CONCLUSION: Osteophyte growth occurred in early thumb osteoarthritis over three years. Growth was localized in specific, non-opposing regions on the trapezium and metacarpal, raising intriguing questions about the triggers for their formation, whether the mechanisms are mechanical, biological or a combination of both.

Histopathological analysis of the synovium in trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis.

Dorsoradial and anterior oblique ligaments were harvested during surgery in 13 patients with symptomatic trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, which had been graded preoperatively by a modified Eaton-Littler radiographic grading. Ligaments, including the periligamentous synovium, were stained with S100 protein, neurotrophic receptor p75, protein gene product 9.5, calcitonin gene related peptide, acetylcholine, substance P, neuropeptide Y, noradrenaline, N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor and Met/Leu-enkephalin. The synovium was classified as showing no, low-grade or high-grade synovitis. Free nerve endings had higher immunoreactivity for substance P than for N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor, enkephalin and noradrenaline. The synovial stroma had less immunoreactivity for N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor than for noradrenaline, substance P and calcitonin gene related peptide. There was no relation between the grade of osteoarthritis and the visual pain analogue scale, synovitis score, immunoreactivity of all antibodies and quantity of free nerve endings or blood vessels. Synovium in trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis produces several neuromediators causing a polymodal neurogenic inflammation and which may serve as biomarkers for osteoarthritis or therapeutic targets.

Cartilage wear patterns in severe osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint: a quantitative analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The present quantitative study aimed to assess the three-dimensional (3-D) cartilage wear patterns of the first metacarpal and trapezium in the advanced stage of osteoarthritis (OA) and compare cartilage measurements with radiographic severity. DESIGN: Using 19 cadaveric trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joints, 3-D cartilage surface models of the first metacarpal and trapezium were created with a laser scanner, and 3-D bone surface model counterparts were similarly created after dissolving the cartilage. These two models were superimposed, and the interval distance on the articular surface as the cartilage thickness was measured. All measurements were obtained in categorized anatomic regions on the articular surface of the respective bone, and we analyzed the 3-D wear patterns on the entire cartilage surface. Furthermore, we compared measurements of cartilage thickness with radiographic OA severity according to the Eaton grading system using Pearson correlation coefficients (r). RESULTS: In the first metacarpal, the cartilage thickness declined volarly (the mean cartilage thickness of the volar region was 0.32 ± 0.16 mm, whereas that of the dorsal region was 0.53 ± 0.18 mm). Conversely, the cartilage evenly degenerated throughout the articular surface of the trapezium. Measurements of the categorized regions where cartilage thinning was remarkable exhibited statistical correlations with radiographic staging (r = -0.48 to -0.72). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that cartilage wear patterns differ between the first metacarpal and trapezium in the late stage of OA. There is a need for further studies on cartilage degeneration leading to symptomatic OA in the TMC joint.

Basal Joint Arthritis A Review of Pathology, History, and Treatment.

The basal joint is a collection of articulations at the base of thumb that serve an important function in the overall dexterity of the hand. The unique anatomy of the basal joint provided many evolutionary advantages to the human hand, but also made this joint susceptible to arthrosis and degenerative changes. Surgical treatment of basal joint arthritis has continued to evolve since it was first described in 1949, including excisional arthroplasty, tendon interposition, ligament reconstruction, implant arthroplasty, and arthroscopy. A review of the pathoanatomy, history, and surgical treatments are assessed including a critical review of the literature.

Prospective Clinical Trial Comparing Trapezial Denervation With Trapeziectomy for the Surgical Treatment of Arthritis at the Base of the Thumb.

BACKGROUND: Trapeziectomy is considered to be the "gold standard" procedure for first carpometacarpal joint (first CMCJ) osteoarthritis. First CMCJ denervation offers the potential benefit of a shorter procedure with bone and joint preservation and swift postoperative rehabilitation. This trial aimed to compare functional outcomes, patient satisfaction, quality of life, and cost effectiveness following these treatments. METHODS: This study was a prospective clinical trial commencing December 2005 to November 2013. A range of functional outcomes assessments were used preoperatively at 6 and 12 mo and 5 y after surgery. These included measurements of strength/motion, visual analogue score, Michigan Hand Outcomes and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions questionnaires. Data were analyzed using a two-sample t-test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients were studied of 55 recruited. Age ranged from 41 to 72 (mean = 59). Thirty-five patients underwent denervation and 10 initially had trapeziectomy. Nine patients were converted to trapeziectomy within an average of 6 to 12 mo. There was no significant difference in the functional outcomes at different points of follow-ups. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the time of return to work or cost effectiveness. Denervation achieved a success rate of just above 70%, whereas no revisions were required for the trapeziectomy group. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference between the two treatments. First CMCJ denervation does not appear to be superior to trapeziectomy. However, the advantage of rapid rehabilitation makes it more favored by patients but at the expense of 30% reoperation rate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Risk Factors for 30-Day Complications After Thumb CMC Joint Arthroplasty: An American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Program Study.

BACKGROUND: The first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint is a common site of osteoarthritis, with arthroplasty being a common procedure to provide pain relief and improve function with low complications. However, little is known about risk factors that may predispose a patient for postoperative complications. METHODS: All CMC joint arthroplasty from 2005 to 2015 in the prospectively collected American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database were identified. Bivariate testing and multiple logistic regressions were performed to determine which patient demographics, surgical variables and medical comorbidities were significant predictors for complications. These included wound related, cardiopulmonary, neurological and renal complications, return to the operating room (OR) and readmission. RESULTS: A total of 3344 patients were identified from the database. Of those, 45 patients (1.3%) experienced a complication including wound issues (0.66%), return to the OR (0.15%) and readmission (0.27%) amongst others. When performing bivariate analysis, age over 65, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class, diabetes and renal dialysis were significant risk factors. Multiple logistic regression after adjusting for confounding factors demonstrated that insulin-dependent diabetes and ASA Class 4 had a strong trend while renal dialysis was a significant risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: CMC arthroplasty has a very low overall complication rate of 1.3% and wound complication rate of 0.66%. Diabetes requiring insulin and ASA Class 4 trended towards significance while renal dialysis was found to be a significant risk factors in logistic regression. This information may be useful for preoperative counseling and discussion with patients who have these risk factors.

Characteristics of Accelerated Hand Osteoarthritis: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether hand joints develop an accelerated form of osteoarthritis (OA) and to characterize individuals who develop accelerated hand osteoarthritis (AHOA). METHODS: We evaluated 3519 participants in the Osteoarthritis Initiative with complete data for baseline and 48-month radiographic hand osteoarthritis (HOA). One reader scored posteroanterior radiographs of the dominant hand using a modified Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) scale and another reader scored the presence of central or marginal erosions. A third reader read images flagged for signs of diseases other than OA. We defined AHOA as ≥ 1 joints that progressed from a KL grade of 0 or 1 at baseline to KL grade 3 or 4 at 48 months. RESULTS: The definition of AHOA was met by 1% over 4 years: 37 hands had 1 joint affected and 1 hand had 2 joints affected. At baseline, adults who developed AHOA were more likely to have hand pain (37% vs 22%), radiographic HOA (71% vs 36%), as well as central (22% vs 7%) and marginal erosions (11% vs 2%) in other joints compared to those without AHOA. Adults with AHOA were more likely to develop new erosions over 48 months (central 35%, marginal 5%) than those without AHOA (central 5%, marginal 1%). The most common locations of accelerated OA were the second metacarpophalangeal and first carpometacarpal joint. CONCLUSION: Accelerated OA can occur in the hand, especially among digits commonly used for pinching and fine motor skills.

Isolated ulnopalmar dislocation of the fifth carpometacarpal joint.

Dislocations of the carpometacarpal (CMC) joints are uncommon and are frequently missed on standard radiographs of the hand. Dislocations could be dorsal or palmar; dorsal dislocations are seen more frequently. Palmar dislocations can be either ulnopalmar or radiopalmar. Stable CMC dislocations could be successfully treated conservatively, while unstable dislocations are mostly treated operatively. The purpose of this report is to present a patient with an isolated ulnopalmar dislocation of the fifth CMC joint, satisfactorily treated with closed reduction and casting.

Dubious space for Artelon joint resurfacing for basal thumb (trapeziometacarpal joint) osteoarthritis. A systematic review.

Introduction: Trapeziometacarpal arthritis is a common and disabling condition. There is no evidence in the literature of superiority of one surgical procedure over others. Several prosthetic implants have been introduced to preserve joint mobility. Sourced of data: We searched the on Medline (PubMed), Web of Science and Scopus databases using the combined keywords 'artelon', 'thumb', 'carpometacarpal', 'trapeziometacarpal' and 'rhizoarthrosis'; 11 studies were identified. Areas of agreement: The use of Artelon implant is not recommended because of its high revision rate and worse outcomes compared to conventional techniques. Areas of controversy: Inert materials subjected to compressive and shearing forces could produce debris and subsequent inflammatory response. There is debate in the published scientific literature regarding the role of preoperative antibiotic profilaxis and post-surgery inflammatory response. Growing points: Standard techniques such as trapeziectomy alone or combined with interposition or suspensionplasty offer effective treatment for thumb basal joint arthritis. Areas timely for developing research: Several prosthetic implants show promising results in terms of pain relief and functional request, but there is a need of long-term randomized controlled trials to demonstrate their equivalence, and eventually superiority, compared to standard techniques.