Thumb CMC arthroplasty is surgery that treats worn-out arthritis at the base of the thumb by removing the damaged joint and rebuilding thumb support. Dr. Cole performs thumb CMC arthroplasty in Memphis for thumb arthritis that stays painful despite splinting, hand therapy, and injections.
Jeff Cole performs thumb cmc (basal joint) arthroplasty in Memphis when it is the right step, and reviews every alternative with you first.
What is Thumb CMC (Basal Joint) Arthroplasty?
Thumb arthritis usually wears out the carpometacarpal joint, or CMC joint, at the base of the thumb.
As the cartilage, the smooth cushion on the bone ends, thins away, bone rubs on bone and pinching becomes painful and weak.
Thumb CMC arthroplasty removes the worn joint and reconstructs support for the thumb so it can pinch and grip with less pain. A common version removes a small wrist bone called the trapezium and uses nearby tendon tissue to cushion and steady the thumb.
The procedure is usually done as an outpatient. It is chosen when non-surgical care no longer controls pain and daily tasks stay limited.
What happens during Thumb CMC (Basal Joint) Arthroplasty, step by step?
In the most common technique, called trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition, the surgeon removes the worn trapezium bone and uses a strip of nearby tendon to rebuild a stable, cushioned base for the thumb.
Other techniques may use a suture-suspension method or, in selected cases, a joint implant. Your physician will explain which approach fits your joint and hand. The thumb is protected in a splint or cast afterward while it heals.
What is recovery like after Thumb CMC (Basal Joint) Arthroplasty?
Recovery from thumb CMC arthroplasty is gradual.
The thumb is protected in a splint or cast for several weeks, followed by hand therapy to rebuild motion and pinch strength. Comfortable use for daily tasks commonly returns over roughly three to six months, with strength continuing to improve after that, according to general guidance from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. These are ranges, not promises. Your physician and therapist will guide each stage.
Read the full guide to preparing for surgery →
Your own recovery instructions come from the office and are specific to you. This page describes the general course, not a plan to follow.
What are the treatment options?
- 01A supportive splint or brace that steadies the jointA supportive splint or brace that steadies the joint.
- 02Hand therapy to strengthen supporting musclesHand therapy to strengthen supporting muscles.
- 03Activity changes and padded, larger gripsActivity changes and padded, larger grips.
- 04A corticosteroid injection, an anti-inflammatory medicine placed in the jointA corticosteroid injection, an anti-inflammatory medicine placed in the joint.
- 05Thumb CMC arthroplasty is considered when pain stays constant and everyday tasks remain liThumb CMC arthroplasty is considered when pain stays constant and everyday tasks remain limited despite these steps.
What do patients ask most?
Will I get a thumb implant?+
How long is recovery?+
Will my pinch strength come back?+
Is hand therapy required?+
Fellowship trained at Washington University, Barnes-Jewish Hospital - St. Louis, MO (Surgery of the Hand & Upper Extremity). Sees patients in Memphis.
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