What is thumb Suspensionplasty?

A portion of the FCR tendon is harvested and looped around the abductor pollicis longus (APL) to create a suspension and interposition arthroplasty. 5. “Suspensionplasty” is a term popularized by Thompson6 in the 1980s to describe the suspension of the thumb metacarpal to prevent proximal migration and impingement.

Is thumb joint replacement successful?

Ruch, LRTI has a 96 percent success rate. “Most patients achieve complete pain relief and mobility equal to that of a healthy thumb, with results lasting at least 15 to 20 years,” he says.

How long does it take to heal from thumb surgery?

Your body takes time to rebuild the structures around the base of the thumb and to learn to move in a different way. Recovering the early movement takes six to eight weeks, but increasing the strength of the thumb pinch can take six months. After surgery, your hand will be painful.

What is Suspensionplasty surgery?

Your base of thumb osteoarthritis will be treated by removal of the trapezium bone (trapeziectomy) and stabilisation of the thumb with a suture button implant (suspensionplasty). An incision over the base of the thumb and a small incision on the back of the hand are required. Sutures will be used to close the skin.

How painful is a Trapeziectomy?

Many patients experience a high degree of pain after a trapeziectomy however some appear to have a comfortable and uncomplicated recovery. Research has looked at different surgical and splinting techniques to improve recovery but have found little difference.

How long is recovery for CMC arthroplasty?

Most patients have minimal pain by 3 months after surgery. Your symptoms will continue to improve with improvements in ability to do more activities every 3 months. Patient usually have good strength and motion at 6 months, and continue to improve for up to 1 year after surgery.

How painful is CMC Arthroplasty?

You will generally have no pain, and the numbing medication usually lasts about 8 or more hours, so you will leave the surgery center with no pain.

Is thumb arthritis a disability?

Many people may wonder is arthritis a disability. Yes. Arthritis can prompt incapacity, as can numerous other mental and physical conditions. If your arthritis confines your daily movements, or activities you may qualify for disability benefits.

How long do you wear a cast after thumb surgery?

Two weeks after surgery, you will have your first post-operative visit. At this visit, your plaster cast will be removed, and you will go to physical therapy to be fitted for a custom splint, which you will wear for four weeks.

What happens after thumb surgery?

The first 6 weeks are tough with pain, weakness, and stiffness in the thumb. Most patients have minimal pain by 3 months after surgery. Your symptoms will continue to improve with improvements in ability to do more activities every 3 months.

Is thumb surgery painful?

Because of the smaller incisions, there is only mild surgical pain, and many patients only require oral pain medicine for the first few days after surgery. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, stability of the thumb base is maintained and additional incisions for using your own tendon are not needed.

How long does it take to perform a Trapeziectomy?

Trapeziectomy usually takes 60-90 minutes to complete. You will have a bandage or plaster cast on your hand. To help reduce any swelling it is important to keep your hand raised above your heart using a sling or pillow.

How to rehabilitate the thumb after suspensionplasty?

●Instruct the patient to begin active and passive range of motion of the thumb MCP and IP joint. The CMC joint should be supported during range of motion exercises. Avoid thumb opposition. This motion may stretch the suspensionplasty site which may cause joint instability.

How is APL suspensionplasty used to treat arthritic pain in the thumb?

Added stability and strength would be a bonus. In this article hand surgeons report on the use of APL suspensionplasty to treat arthritic pain at the base of the thumb (carpometacarpal joint). Pain relief without weakness was the favorable outcome for most of the patients. Pain at the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint can be very disabling.

When to use suspensionplasty for thumb cmcj arthritis?

Rehabilitation is started after one month. Results of this technique have been published at two years follow-up by Wells (25 cases), and by Yao (21 cases), showing excellent pain relief, pinch strength amounting to 80% of the contralateral side, and conservation of the range of motion.

How does suspensionplasty help with trapeziectomy pain?

Although each of these treatments have their specific limitations, most of the results published in the literature have indicated a satisfactory pain relief, and varied degrees of decrease in pinch strength and in range of motion. The suspensionplasty techniques aim at maintaining the trapezial height after trapeziectomy.