Thumb Arthritis can be debilitating 👍 Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) or #basaljoint arthritis is the 2nd most common location for osteoarthritis in the hand. It mainly affects women >50 yrs of age. Basal joint #arthritis causes pain, loss of strength during pinch grips, and eventually stiffness and progressive deformity of the thumb. Conservative treatment should be tried first. It must be initiated as soon as pain starts, not once the deformity has settled-in. Surgery is indicated when pain relief is not achieved after at least 6 mos of conservative treatment . Thumb Arthritis Symptoms: Pain is the first and most common symptom of thumb arthritis. Pain can occur at the base of your thumb when you grip, grasp or pinch an object, or use your thumb to apply force. Other signs and symptoms might include: - Swelling, stiffness and tenderness at the base of your thumb - Decreased strength when pinching or grasping objects - Decreased range of motion - Enlarged or bony appearance of the joint at the base of your thumb . Thumb Arthritis Surgical Options: Available surgical techniques can be classified as joint-sparing (extra-articular) and joint-sacrificing (intra-articular). The former consists of trapeziometacarpal stabilizing ligament reconstruction, subtraction osteotomy of the first metacarpal and thumb #carpometacarpal denervation. The latter consists of trapeziometacarpal fusion, trapeziectomy (and its variants) and implant arthroplasty. Except in very specific cases, trapeziectomy and trapeziometacarpal implant arthroplasty with a total joint prosthesis or an implant are the (2) main surgical techniques for treating basal joint arthritis. #handarthritistis #handsurgery