Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition Using Flexor Carpi Radialis Tendon for the Treatment of Basilar Thumb Arthritis: A Case Report

Introduction: Basilar thumb arthritis is most common arthritis affected about 10% of middle aged women and one third of postmenopausal women had this condition. The disease is often not shown significant symptom, when become a symptomatic can provide 50% loss of function. Conservative treatment with mild arthtritis usually had a good respond. Surgery is indicated in patients who failed to conservative treatment. Ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition is the surgical approach commonly used to treat basal joint arthtritis. Case Presentation: A 61-year-old woman complained swelling and also pain at the base of the left thumb more than 1 year and unable to do a daily activity and getting worse, also complained weakness grip. Plain radiograph of hand showed the trapezial space height about 10mm and diagnosed with basilar thumb arthritis of the left hand Eaton stage III with DASH score pre operatively is 60.8. The patient done with LRTI procedure and used thumb spica cast for immobilized 4 weeks. The DASH Score Post operatively is 40.7 and after 6 months the score is improve to 19.2. Conclusion: Basal Thumb Arthritis is a common condition affecting postmenopausal women with a deformity consisting of a MCP hyperextension deformity accompanied by swelling, tenderness and crepitus. Eaton Classification used to staging of basal thumb arthritis and help to decide the treatment. LRTI is one approach to treat patients with CMC arthritis who has a high level of satisfaction and objectivity in measuring function, including restoring of the strength and ability of the affected thumb. Keywords: Basilar, Thumb, Joint, Arthritis, Ligament reconstruction, tendon interposition.

Trapeziectomy with Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition versus Trapeziometacarpal Joint Replacement for Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background The trapeziometacarpal articulation in the thumb is a joint that is second-most commonly affected by osteoarthritis, and this can lead to considerable hand pain and disability. Currently, there is a multiplicity of surgical options available to address this problem, yet none has proven to be significantly superior to the others. Objective This study aims to compare the outcome of trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition versus trapeziometacarpal joint replacement for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement standards. The NICE Healthcare Databases Advanced Search (HDAS) tool was used to search articles. One randomized controlled trial (RCT), one prospective cohort study and two retrospective cohort studies were identified. Results Our results demonstrate a significant difference in the Quick Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (QDASH) score between the trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI) and Joint Replacement groups with the joint replacement group exhibiting better QDASH scores than the LRTI group. We also found that those who had a joint replacement had a significantly better thumb opposition than those in the LRTI group, as demonstrated by a superior Kapandji score. However, the complication rate of joint replacement appears to be higher. Conclusion Our study reveals that while both treatment options are valid, the limited body of evidence currently available shows that joint replacement carries more risks and thus should not replace the current standard treatment of trapeziectomy with LRTI. This study highlights the need for more trials to be performed to more accurately compare the two treatment modalities. For the time being, we advocate that joint replacement is only performed by surgeons who perform this procedure regularly to reduce the risk of complications.

Comparison of simulated key pinch after three surgical procedures for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis: a cadaver study

We performed a cadaver study using 18 fresh-frozen adult forearms and hands to compare the tendon loads required to generate progressively greater key pinch (0.5 kg to 2 kg) after three different surgical procedures to treat trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis: isolated trapeziectomy, trapeziectomy followed by ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition and total joint arthroplasty using a Touch® implant. Thumb pinch was simulated by loading the main actuator tendons involved in the key pinch. Six specimens were randomly assigned to each of the three surgical procedure groups. Measurements were made before and after the joint surgery. Specimens that underwent trapeziectomy with or without ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition required significantly higher tendon loads than those with the implant to achieve the same pinch force. There was no significant difference between the isolated trapeziectomy and ligament reconstruction groups. Using the implant resulted in similar median tendon loads compared with those of the intact sample. Total joint arthroplasty with a Touch® prosthesis may yield a superior biomechanical profile in which the tendon loads needed to achieve a certain key pinch force are lower and better distributed between the actuator muscles compared with trapeziectomy with or without ligament reconstruction.

Irreducible Distal Tibia Physeal Injury with Tibialis Posterior Tendon Interposition

A 14-year-old basketball player presented with a displaced distal tibia physeal fracture which is typically treated with closed reduction with or without internal fixation. However, repeated attempts at closed reduction failed to align the fracture fragments. At open reduction, tibialis posterior tendon interposition was identified within the fracture site and bowstringing of the tendon prevented closed reduction. A tendon interposition should be suspected when repeated closed reduction attempts fail to achieve satisfactory fracture reduction. The features of tendon interposition should be differentiated from the more common periosteal interposition for physeal fractures of the tibia.

Functional outcome of ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition after failed first carpometacarpal joint prosthesis

The purpose is to determine if ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition (LRTI) is a recommendable salvage option for failed total joint prosthesis of the first carpometacarpal joint. Twenty-two patients in our database met the in- clusion criteria for this retrospective study, with at least 6 months follow-up. Fourteen participated and were invited for a clinical examination and asked to fill out two questionnaires. They were evaluated for pain (VAS), impairment (NHS), disability (Quick DASH), opposition (Kapandji test) and grip strength (hydraulic dynamometer). Results of the questionnaires were compared to a cohort study of primary LRTI’s. Kapandji test and grip strength were compared to the contralateral side. Compared to primary LRTI’s, revision surgery showed mild deterioration of impairment and disability. The average VAS score was 2.9 out of 10. Twelve patients mentioned a sense of strength loss, which could be quantified with the dynamometer : a mean of 15.1 kg (operated thumb) versus 20.5 kg (contralateral). There was a relatively small decline of opposition with Kapandji 8.6 versus 9.9. The overall satisfaction was good for 8 patients, fair for 3 and poor for the remaining 3 (mainly based on strength loss). One patient needed a second revision. Failed first carpometacarpal joint replacement can be salvaged by ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition, providing an acceptable functional outcome in 79% of cases studied. However, compared to the functional outcome of primary LRTI’s, mild aggravation of impairment and disability should be taken into account.

Thumb-Basal Joint Arthroplasty Outcomes and Metacarpal Subsidence: A Prospective Cohort Analysis of Trapeziectomy With Suture Button Suspensionplasty Versus Ligament Reconstruction With Tendon Interposition

Background Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint arthroplasty is a common procedure in the surgical management of symptomatic thumb basal joint arthritis. Following trapeziectomy, a number of suspensionplasty techniques are often used, but limited comparative evidence exists between these techniques. The central aim of this study was to prospectively compare the outcomes of 2 suspensionplasty techniques following trapeziectomy: suture button (TightRope) versus ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI). Methods Prospective data were collected on 112 consecutive patients with Eaton stage III-IV thumb CMC arthritis who underwent open trapeziectomy and suspensionplasty. There were 53 LRTI and 59 TightRope suspensionplasty procedures. Outcomes were measured using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand ( QuickDASH) questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, radiographic analysis, and lateral pinch strength. Patient demographic data and complications were also recorded. Results Patients undergoing TightRope suspensionplasty had significantly higher trapeziometacarpal index and thus less subsidence than the LRTI group at 2 weeks (0.22 vs 0.17 [ P < .0001]) and 3 months (0.17 vs 0.15 [ P < .05]) postoperatively. TightRope suspensionplasty also had a significantly lower QuickDASH score at 2 weeks (64.7 vs 74.6 [ P < .05]), 3 months (20.7 vs 32.5 [ P < .05]), and 1 year postoperatively (7.57 vs 21.5 [ P < .05]) compared with the LRTI group. However, there was no difference in VAS pain, lateral pinch strength, reoperation, or complications at any time point between groups. Conclusions Thumb CMC joint arthroplasty performed with a TightRope suspensionplasty versus LRTI yielded short-term improved resistance to subsidence, long-term greater improvement in clinical outcome by QuickDASH, and no difference in pain or complication rates.