Thumb Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthritis: Partial Trapeziectomy With Ligament Reconstruction and Interposition Costochondral Allograft Thomas E. Trumble, MD, Gregory Rafijah, MD, Mary Gilbert, MA, Christopher H. Allan, MD, Edward North, MD, Wren V. McCallister, MD Seattle, WA Qualitative and quantitative outcomes were assessed clinically and radiographically in 41 patients (46 thumbs) with thumb basal joint arthritis limited to the trapeziometacarpal joint treated with hemiresection arthroplasty of the trapezium, flexor carpi radialis ligament reconstruction, and allograft costochondral interposition graft. Results of the validated Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire at a mean follow-up time of 42 months (range, 24 – 48 months) revealed that 90% of the patients had a high level of function with minimal symptoms. Important improvements in web space with increased palmar and radial abduction and grip and pinch strength measurements were observed. The trapeziometacarpal space had decreased 21% after surgery while trapeziometacarpal subluxation was 16% compared with 21% before surgery. There was an inverse correlation between the loss of trapezial height and subluxation and clinical outcome. The results of this study demonstrate that although the preoperative trapezial height was not maintained, the reconstructed thumbs remained stable, with little subluxation and improved clinical outcomes. (J Hand Surg 2000;25A:61–76. Copyright © 2000 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.) Key words: Trapeziometacarpal joint, arthritis, reconstruction, allograft, cartilage. Although a number of previous reports have indicated that excision arthroplasty has been effective in the treatment of basal joint arthritis of the thumb by relieving pain and preserving motion,1– 4 others have indicated that arthroplasty of the thumb by excision From the Department of Orthopaedics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Received for publication July 7, 1999; accepted in revised form September 13, 1999. No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article. Reprint requests: Thomas E. Trumble, MD, Department of Orthopaedics, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 356500, Seattle, WA 98195-6500. Copyright © 2000 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand 0363-5023/00/25A01-0018$3.00/0 of the trapezium alone causes a substantial loss of thumb strength and stability.5–7 In an effort to improve thumb function and prevent proximal metacarpal migration, a number of investigators have recommended ligament reconstruction, particularly the reconstruction of the palmar oblique ligament.8 –12 In 1983, Burton13 recommended the use of the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) to reconstruct the palmar oblique ligament. Biddulph8 subsequently recommended the use of the extensor carpi radialis longus tendon to reconstruct the palmar oblique ligament. Swanson14 reported the use of silicone rubber implants to prevent proximal migration of the thumb metacarpal. Silicone rubber implants used to replace portions of the carpus, however, resulted in silicone synovitis The Journal of Hand Surgery 61 62 Trumble et al / Thumb Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthritis due to fragmentation of the implants.15–18 Burton and Pellegrini9 reported the modification of the ligament reconstruction technique in 1986 using the entire FCR so that half of the FCR could be used as a spacer to avoid using a silicone implant. In this modification, the FCR is split longitudinally; one of the tails of the FCR tendon was used for the ligament reconstruction of the palmar oblique ligament and the other tail was used as an interposition material by suturing the tendon into the space left following excision of the trapezium after the strip of the FCR had been coiled on itself to form a compacted ball. The technique of ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition required the used of a K-wire to stabilize the thumb metacarpal to the index metacarpal for 4 weeks.7 The ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition arthroplasty of the basal joint of the thumb did eliminate the problem of the silicone synovitis, but our experience with the technique demonstrated that the tendon graft did not provide the same substantial replacement of volume that was offered by the silicone implant and that the use of a K-wire to stabilize the thumb metacarpal to the index finger metacarpal was often quite irritating to patients. Furthermore, in many cases with the arthritis limited to only the trapeziometacarpal (TM) joint, complete excision of the trapezium did not appear to be warranted. In 1984, Littler18A developed a technique using as interposition material shaped like a life saver between the partially resected trapezium and the base of the thumb metacarpal for patients with arthritis limited to the TM joint.18A He coined the term Life Saver technique; the original interposition material in the design was a silicone rubber implant. Because of the problems noted with silicone rubber, the interposition material was changed to allograft costochondral cartilage. The allograft cartilage was carved into a shape resembling a life saver and stabilized by weaving the FCR tendon through the trapezium, allograft cartilage, and base of the thumb metacarpal. By replacing the interposition tendon graft with a carved piece of allograft rib cartilage greater stability of the reconstructed thumb was noted, especially when a strip of the FCR tendon was woven through the allograft cartilage. With this technique there was no need for temporary pin fixation. The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of a cohort of patients treated with a costochondral allograft implant and tendon reconstruction with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years and to correlate the radiographic findings with patient outcome. Materials and Methods Between 1988 and 1996, we performed 62 basal thumb joint costochondral allograft arthroplasties. Nine patients (11 thumbs) were excluded from this study because of inflammatory arthritis, pantrapezial arthritis, or other concomitant procedures involving the operated hand that would affect hand function. Five additional patients during this interval met the inclusion criteria but could not be located to complete questionnaires and follow-up examinations. Forty-one patients (46 thumbs) formed the basis of this study. This study represents a retrospective clinical and radiographic assessment of 46 thumbs in 41 patients with basal joint arthritis limited to the TM articulation that were treated by costochondral allograft interposition arthroplasty coupled with a tenodesis of the FCR to the thumb metacarpal from January 1, 1988, to December 31, 1996. The average age at the time of surgery was 64 years (range, 40 – 88 years). There were 36 women and 5 men. Thirty-one procedures were performed on the dominant hand. Although many of the patients had minor associated medical problems, none had insulin-dependent diabetes or required steroids for their arthritis or other conditions. At the time of surgery, 17 of the patients were employed and 24 were retired. Of the employed patients, 6 did maintenance and repair work, 6 did clerical work, 3 were laboratory technicians, and 2 were office managers. Clinical Evaluation The diagnosis of TM arthritis of the thumb was based on both clinical and radiographic findings. The patients universally described a constant pain at the base of their thumbs that was exacerbated by activities involving substantial grip or pinch strength. Physical examination revealed tenderness at the Tm joint and pain with axial joint loading of the thumb. Other diagnoses, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, de Quervain’s disease, and carpal instability, were excluded by history and physical examination. Lateral radiographs confirmed the diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the thumb TM joint and excluded degenerative disease of the radioscaphoid and the scaphotrapezium-trapezoid articulations due to earlier trauma or primary osteoarthritis. All patients underwent a trial of nonoperative treatment before surgery that included a splint immobilizing the thumb or an intraarticular injection of 40 mg dexamethasone phosphate. The Journal of Hand Surgery / Vol. 25A No. 1 January 2000 63 Figure 1. An S-shaped incision is used to expose the thumb TM joint. A second incision is used to expose the musculotendinous junction of the FCR muscle. Operative Procedure The surgery is performed using a curvilinear incision along the base of the thumb. The branches of the superficial radial nerve and deep branch of the radial artery are identified and protected (Fig. 1). The distal half of the incision is placed in the border of the glabrous skin of the thenar eminence. The base of the thumb metacarpal is exposed between the abductor pollicis longus and the extensor pollicis brevis. The insertion of the abductor pollicis longus on the base of the thumb metacarpal is split along the natural division in the tendon. Half is reflected to the ulnar side; the other half is reflected to the radial side (Fig. 2). A longitudinal capsule incision is made in the capsule and radial and ulnar flaps are elevated to expose the thumb TM joint. In addition, a small arthrotomy is made in the scaphotrapezio-trapezoidal joint to confirm that the joint is free of degenerative changes before proceeding with only partial excision of the trapezium. A small oscillating saw is used to remove the distal surface of the trapezium, taking care to protect the FCR tendon (Fig. 3). The tendon sheath of the FCR is exposed and separated from the tendon so a Freer elevator can be placed on the palmar surface of the tendon as it passes deep to the trapezium. We recommend performing the osteotomy with the power saw to remove 2 to 3 mm of distal articular surface of the trapezium to avoid injury to the FCR. The remainder of the osteotomy is completed with small osteotomes. A 12-cm strip of the FCR tendon is obtained through a single longitudinal incision at the junction of the distal and medial thirds of the forearm. The proximal tendon is cut halfway across its width. Half of the tendon is stripped free of the remaining portion of the FCR and brought out through the distal incision. A drill hole is made from the palmar surface of the trapezium to the distal surface of the trapezium after the distal articular surface has been removed by the oscillating saw. A second drill hole is made into the base of the metacarpal and connected with the drill hole made in the dorsal radial aspect of the thumb metacarpal base (Fig. 4). A costochondral allograft measuring approximately 1.5 ⫻ 2.0 ⫻ 4.0 cm is fashioned into a disk for interposition into the TM joint. We obtained our allograft material from the Northwest Tissue Center, Seattle, WA (Fig. 5). The allograft tissue is recovered aseptically, sterilized with 14 to 21 kGy of gamma radiation, and stored at ⫺70°C. Before implantation the graft is thawed at 37°C for 30 minutes. The donors are screened for infectious, malignant, neurologic, and autoimmune disease and other exposures or habits that might result in unsatisfactory tissue. A blood sample taken at the time of procurement must test nonreactive for the human immunodeficiency virus antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis C antibody, HTLV-1 antibody, and syphilis using tests licensed by the Food and Drug Administration. Results of microbiological 64 Trumble et al / Thumb Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthritis Postoperative immobilization in a thumb spica cast is followed at 5 weeks by gentle range of motion exercises and a removable splint that immobilizes the thumb. The 5-week period was based on comments by our patients that they felt comfortable and stable enough to forego fulltime splinting. The therapy initially focuses on regaining motion of the thumb metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints with active and passive exercises. Active exercises are begun for radial and palmar abduction of the thumb but passive exercises are avoided to prevent stress of the ligament reconstruction. At 8 weeks unrestricted thumb motion is allowed and the splint is discontinued. Follow-up Evaluations Evaluation Using Outcomes Instrument. The disability of arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire19,20 was used to determine the patient’s Figure 2. The attachment of the abductor pollicis longus onto the base of the thumb metacarpal is split longitudinally along with the capsule of the TM joint that is elevated as radial and ulnar flaps. testing of the allograft also must be negative. The allograft cartilage can be easily carved with a scalpel into the shape of a life saver (a disk with a central hole) with a diameter matching that of the resected trapezial surface (Fig. 6). It is helpful to leave the allograft life saver attached to the rib cartilage to use as a handle when performing a trial reduction. Twenty-two– gauge stainless steel wires are doubled over and used to pass the tendon through the cartilage and the bone (Fig. 7). The tendon is sequentially passed through the trapezium, the allograft cartilage, and the base of the thumb metacarpal (Fig. 8). The tendon is placed under tension to ensure the stability of the TM joint. The FCR tendon graft is then sutured back onto itself and the capsule is closed with nonabsorbable sutures (Fig. 9). Figure 3. An oscillating saw is used to remove the distal articular surface of the trapezium. The Journal of Hand Surgery / Vol. 25A No. 1 January 2000 65 Figure 4. (A) Holes are drilled through the trapezium, allograft cartilage, and base of the thumb metacarpal. (B) The initial concept of the costochondral allograft spacer is demonstrated in this drawing by Littler. (Reproduced with permission from Steven Z. Glickel, MD.) 66 Trumble et al / Thumb Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthritis Figure 5. A costochondral allograft measuring approximately 1.0 ⫻ 2.0 ⫻ 4.0 cm. perception of their most recent postoperative functional status. Forty-six thumbs in 41 patients were evaluated with the self-administered survey at a mean of 42 months after surgery (range, 24 – 88 months). Pain, stiffness, and weakness were ranked on a numerical rating scale from 1 (none) to 5 (extreme). Activities assessed in the DASH questionnaire included opening a jar, writing, turning a key, preparing meals, opening doors, placing objects over the head, etc, and were ranked on a numerical rating scale from 1 (no difficulty) to 5 (unable to perform). Employment status was evaluated by the ability of the patients to return to their prior occupation with or without job modifications. The patients’ confidence with the use of their hands was assessed with 5 numerical rating scales in response to the statement, Figure 6. The costochondral allograft is carved with a scalpel to match the shape of the space between the distal surface of the trapezium and the base of the thumb metacarpal. A hole (approximately 3.2 mm) is drilled in the center of the graft. The Journal of Hand Surgery / Vol. 25A No. 1 January 2000 67 41 patients at a mean of 42 months (range, 24 – 88 months). Grip strength and lateral pinch strength were determined for both hands using a Jamar dynamometer (Asimov Engineering, Los Angeles, CA) and a pinch meter (Therapeutic Instruments, Clifton, NJ). The web space angle was measured bilaterally as the maximal radial and palmar abduction between the thumb metacarpal and the index metacarpal. Because of the differences in the size of the hands, the absolute space measurement from the tip of the thumb pulp to the radial aspect of the proximal interphalangeal joint was not used. Preoperative measurements were available in 36 thumbs of 33 patients at the time of the final follow-up evaluation. Using a modification of the classification of basal joint arthritis described by Eaton and Glickel,21 the severity of arthritis was staged according to preoperative radiographic appearance. All thumbs had stage III arthritis without evidence of arthritis at the scaphotrapezio-trapezoidal joints (Fig. 10). Patients with stage IV arthritis (pantrapezial arthritis) were treated with a different surgical approach that in- Figure 7. A 22-gauge malleable wire is folded in half to pass the distally based strip of half of the FCR tendon through the drill hole in the palmar surface of the trapezium, the allograft cartilage, and the radial surface of the thumb metacarpal. “I feel less capable, less confident, or less useful because of my arm, shoulder, or hand problem.” The patients’ overall satisfaction with surgery, their relief of preoperative pain, and their ability to perform activities of daily living were assessed using a similar questionnaire. Because of the format of the questionnaires, lower scores on the DASH and satisfaction questionnaires indicated better functional outcomes. The patients were also questioned as to whether they would choose to undergo surgery again under the same circumstances. Objective Follow-up Evaluation. Postoperative physical evaluation was performed in 46 thumbs of Figure 8. The strip of the FCR is threaded through the trapezium, the carved allograft cartilage, and the base of the thumb metacarpal (MCI). 68 Trumble et al / Thumb Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthritis nique reported by Lins et al.11 The measurement is defined by the distance from the distal end of the thumb metacarpal to the proximal surface of the trapezium (Fig. 11). Lines were extended along the edges of the proximal articular surface of the trapezium and the distal edge and subchondral bone of the metacarpal. At the midpoint a perpendicular line was extended between these 2 lines to define the TM height. To minimize the variability of the trapezium to metacarpal height due to the differences in the magnification of the radiographs, the thumb proximal phalanx was used as a comparative standard. Figure 9. After the strip of the FCR is brought out through the base of the thumb metacarpal, it is folded back onto itself and sutured under tension using nonabsorbable sutures. cluded resection of the entire trapezium. Patients with stage III arthritis had radiographic evidence of destruction of the TM joint with complete loss of the joint space and/or sclerosis and cystic changes in the subchondral bone on either side of the joint. To measure how well the space between the thumb metacarpal and the proximal half of the trapezium was maintained, preoperative and postoperative thumb metacarpal to trapezial (TM) distances were calculated (Fig. 11). The TM distance is more reproducible than measurements from the distal edge of the scaphoid to the base of the thumb metacarpal because of the irregular shape of the arthritic thumb metacarpal base. The TM distance is determined from measurements taken from posteroanterior radiographs of the thumb using the radiographic tech- Figure 10. All the patients had Eaton stage III osteoarthritis with loss of the TM joint space along with sclerosis and cyst formation on either side of the joint space; however, the scaphotrapezial joint space was spared. The Journal of Hand Surgery / Vol. 25A No. 1 January 2000 69 height to the average proximal phalangeal height for all the patients. All radiographic distances were measured to the nearest 0.5 mm. Kadiyala et al22 showed that similar measurements of the thumb basal joint using a ratio involving the proximal phalanx demonstrated satisfactory interobserver reliability in the study of both normal radiographs and radiographs of patients with basal joint arthritis. Subluxation of the thumb TM joint was measured by drawing a line connecting the superior and inferior edges on the ulnar border of the trapezium and a line parallel to this incorporating the ulnar margin of the thumb metacarpal (Fig. 12, distance A). The relative subluxation of the thumb was determined as the ratio of distance A divided by the width of the articular surface of the base of the thumb metacarpal (distance B). The graft height was measured in the initial postoperative radiographs and then at the final follow-up visit. The height of the graft was reported as the average of the medial and lateral margins of the graft normalized by multiplying the average by the ratio of the proximal phalangeal height to the average phalangeal height (Fig. 13). Data Analysis Statistical analysis was performed using the Abacus concepts, Stat View II software program (Abacus Concepts, Inc, Berkeley, CA). Paired t-tests were used to compare preoperative and postoperative values for trapezium to metacarpal (TM) height as well as grip and pinch strengths. Spearman correlation coefficients (r) were used to analyze relationships between trapezium to metacarpal height, grip and pinch strength, thumb motion, and the parameters determined in the DASH questionnaire. Figure 11. The TM distance is defined as the distance from the distal end of the thumb metacarpal to the proximal surface of the trapezium. Outcome Analysis The proximal phalanx height was determined by identifying the midpoint of a tangential line drawn across the superior edge of the proximal phalanx condyles to a point along the inferior subchondral surface of the base of the proximal phalanx in a manner similar to that used to outline the base of the metacarpal (Fig. 11). The trapezium to metacarpal (TM) height was normalized by multiplying the trapezium to metacarpal height of the individual radiograph by the ratio of the patient’s proximal phalanx The findings from the outcome analysis were divided into primary outcomes, including relief of pain, patient satisfaction, and patient confidence. We assumed that the residual pain was due to the TM joint because the preoperative and postoperative radiographs of the scaphotrapezium-trapezoid articulation did not demonstrate degenerative changes except in 1 patient. The radiographic findings correlated with our inspection of the scaphotrapezio-trapezoidal joint during surgery. Secondary outcomes were categorized as qualitative and quantitative. Secondary qualitative out- Results 70 Trumble et al / Thumb Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthritis to determine whether there was a correlation between proximal metacarpal migration and patient satisfaction or performance. Grip and pinch strength were additionally compared with primary and secondary qualitative outcomes. Figure 12. Subluxation of the thumb TM joint was measured by drawing a line connecting the superior and inferior edges on the ulnar border of the trapezium and a line parallel to this incorporating the ulnar margin of the thumb metacarpal (distance A). The relative subluxation of the thumb was determined as the ratio of distance A divided by the width of the articular surface of the base of the thumb metacarpal (distance B). comes included subjective reports of problems with activities of daily living and the ability to return to work or sports activities. Secondary quantitative outcomes included the results of objective measurements of grip, pinch strength, and abduction of the thumb. Outcomes were then compared with the TM height Figure 13. The height of the graft was reported as the average of the medial and lateral margins of the graft normalized by multiplying the average by the ratio of the proximal phalangeal height to the average phalangeal height. The Journal of Hand Surgery / Vol. 25A No. 1 January 2000 71 Table 1. Secondary Qualitative Outcomes Feature Contralateral Before Surgery After Surgery p Value* Grip strength (kgf) Pinch strength (kgf) Palmar abduction Radial abduction MCP joint motion IP joint TM distance (mm) Subluxation 22.0 ⫾ 5.9 5.5 ⫾ 1.1 52° ⫾ 8° 52° ⫾ 10° 61° ⫾ 18° 79° ⫾ 17° NA NA 16.0 ⫾ 5.2 3.4 ⫾ 1.4 45° ⫾ 8° 48° ⫾ 7° 59° ⫾ 24° 78° ⫾ 21° 5.0 ⫾ 4.0 0.21 ⫾ .11 21.0 ⫾ 6.8 4.6 ⫾ 1.5 50° ⫾ 9° 50° ⫾ 9° 58° ⫾ 21° 74° ⫾ 15° 50.6 ⫾ 4.5 0.16 ⫾ .13 ⬍.01 ⬍.01 ⬍.05 ⬎.05 ⬎.05 ⬎.05 ⬍.01 ⬍.05 MCP, metacarpophalangeal; IP, interphalangeal; NA, not applicable. *Comparison of preoperation values with postoperative values. Primary Outcomes Pain. The average postoperative pain severity was 1.7 ⫾ 1.0 on a scale of 1 to 5. Seven patients (17%) indicated some pain with work or heavy activities (level 2). Eight patients (20%) indicated that they had pain even with light activities or activities of daily living (level 3 or 4). The average score on the outcome questionnaire for sleep difficulty was 1.3 ⫾ 0.5, indicating that the average difficulty with sleep was considered mild. Compared with their preoperative state, 38 patients (92%) felt the severity of pain had improved or resolved. Satisfaction and Confidence. The mean score for loss of confidence was 1.8 ⫾ 1.2. In 8 hands (7 patients) there were reports of substantial loss of confidence (score of 4 or 5). In many cases, patients indicated that they did not feel confident holding objects and that they frequently dropped heavy objects. Thirty-eight patients (92%) were satisfied with their operations and would undergo surgery again if faced with the same situation. Secondary Outcomes Qualitative. The patients demonstrated very little difficulty with light activities, such as writing, turning a key, or preparing a meal, with DASH questionnaire scores of 1.4 ⫾ 0.7, 2.2 ⫾ 01.7, and 1.9 ⫾ 1.0, respectively. They did not score as well for more difficult activities, however, such as opening a jar (DASH score 2.7 ⫾ 1.5), pushing open a heavy door (DASH score 2.2 ⫾ 1.3), or carrying an object heavier than 10 pounds (DASH score 2.3 ⫾ 1.2) compared with any of the light activities (p ⬍ .01) (Table 1). Patients scored 1.7 ⫾ 0.8 for weakness and 1.6 ⫾ 0.8 for stiffness, indicating that these were only mild problems for the majority of the patients. Recreational activities requiring an impact (ie, golf, tennis) resulted in higher scores, indicating more difficulty for patients who scored these activities (DASH score 2.1 ⫾ 1.0) compared with any of the recreational activities with free movement (ie, swimming, card playing; DASH score 1.6 ⫾ 0.9; p ⬍ .01). Patients noted that symptoms related to their thumbs had only a mild effect on their social activities, with a score of 1.7 ⫾ 1.0. All 17 of the patients who were employed returned to work, although 7 modified or changed their jobs on their return. Fourteen of the patients returning to work (82%) reported pain responses of 1 or 2, indicating minimal pain at work. Two patients reported a pain level of 3; 1 patient reported a pain response of 4 and requires the use of a brace while at work. Quantitative. Significant improvements were noted in grip and pinch strength. Preoperative grip strength averaged 16.0 ⫾ 5.2 kgf compared with 21.0 ⫾ 6.8 kgf after surgery (p ⬍ .01; Table 1). Postoperative grip strength was not significantly different from the grip strength of the contralateral side (22.0 ⫾ 5.9 kgf). Pinch strength averaged 3.4 ⫾ 1.4 kgf before surgery compared with 4.6 ⫾ 1.5 kgf after surgery (p ⬍ .01), but this was still less than the pinch strength of the contralateral side, which averaged 5.5 ⫾ 1.1 kgf (p ⬍ .05). Thumb palmar abduction averaged 45° ⫾ 8° before surgery; this increased to 50° ⫾ 9° after surgery (p ⬍ .05). The thumb palmar abduction on the contralateral side for the patients with unilateral surgery was slightly greater than on the operated hand (52° ⫾ 8°), although we detected no statistically significant difference. The thumb radial abduction averaged 48° ⫾ 7° before surgery and increased to 50° ⫾ 9° after surgery. This was not a significant improvement, however; the results after surgery remained lower than the contralateral side, which maintained 52° ⫾ 10° of motion. The motion of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint motion decreased 72 Trumble et al / Thumb Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthritis from 59° ⫾ 24° before surgery to 58° ⫾ 21° after surgery, but this was not a significant change. The thumb interphalangeal motion did not significantly change after surgery (74° ⫾ 15°) compared with before surgery (78° ⫾ 21°). Radiographic Evaluation Only 1 patient demonstrated evidence of scaphotrapezium-trapezoid arthritis at the follow-up examination. The preoperative TM height averaged 53.1 ⫾ 4.0 mm. In the initial postoperative radiographs (obtained within 6 months of surgery) the TM height averaged 53.8 ⫾ 5.2 mm (Table 1). On the final follow-up examination the radiographs of the normalized TM height averaged 50.6 ⫾ 4.5 mm, for an average loss of 2.5 ⫾ 1.5 mm on the final postoperative radiographs and 3.2 ⫾ 1.7 mm from the initial postoperative radiographs because the graft was thicker than the segment of bone removed from the trapezium. This corresponded to a decrease in the graft height from 7.1 ⫾ 1.8 mm to 3.8 ⫾ 1.4 mm (a 46% decrease). The average height of the trapezium was 12 mm before surgery. The 2.5-mm decrease in the TM space corresponded to a 21% decrease in the space once occupied by the trapezium. In 15 patients there were radiographs available approximately 1 year following the surgery. The normalized TM height in these patients averaged 50.0 ⫾ 4.7 mm, indicating that most of the loss of height of the allograft cartilage had occurred within the first year. The subluxation of the TM joint decreased from 0.21 ⫾ 0.11 before surgery to 0.16 ⫾ 0.13 after surgery (p ⬍ .05). Intergroup Analysis Postoperative pinch and grip strength correlated directly with overall satisfaction (r ⫽ .413 and .526, respectively) and inversely with pain severity (r ⫽ ⫺.258 and ⫺.215, respectively) and loss of confidence (r ⫽ ⫺.363 and ⫺.561, respectively). Grip and pinch strength also correlated inversely with activities requiring strength such as jar opening (r ⫽ ⫺.510 and ⫺.532, respectively) and recreational sports with impact (r ⫽ ⫺.351 and ⫺.447, respectively). Comparison of the loss in the TM height to the qualitative and quantitative clinical outcomes revealed that there was a significant inverse correlation between the overall DASH score and the maintenance of the trapezium to metacarpal (TM) height (r ⫽ ⫺.516). The responses to specific questions that required greater strength (ie, cutting with a knife [r ⫽ ⫺.412] and doing heavy household chores [r ⫽ ⫺.564]) demonstrated stronger inverse correlation than less strenuous activities (ie, changing light bulbs [r ⫽ ⫺.326] and placing objects on a shelf [r ⫽ ⫺.353]) (Table 2). The overall DASH score also decreased with decreasing TM subluxation (r ⫽ .537). Pain with work activities (r ⫽ .425) and pain with activities of daily living (r ⫽ .483) also decreased with decreasing subluxation of the TM joint. Outcome assessments by the DASH, satisfaction, and pain questionnaires as well as quantitative measurements of grip and pinch strength and thumb motion did not demonstrate a significant correlation between age, gender, and hand dominance. There were no significant differences between the patients included in the study and patients who were excluded or lost to follow-up evaluation with respect to age, gender, hand dominance, and radiographic parameters. Complications One patient in this series developed recurrent pain of the basal joint 72 months after the initial surgery. Radiographs demonstrated collapse of the joint space with bone on bone contact and stage IV arthritis involving the scaphotrapezial joint.21 The patient was treated with a revision arthroplasty, including resection of the entire trapezium, reconstruction with a silicone rubber implant, and ligament reconstruction using the remaining half of the FCR tendon, which was woven through the abductor pollicis longus tendon to stabilize the implant. The silicone rubber implant was chosen because the space remaining after the resection of the entire trapezium was too large to be filled in by allograft cartilage. The most recent grip strength averaged 15 kgf (before surgery, 13 kgf) and pinch strength averaged 5 kgf (before surgery, 3 kgf). One patient who was subsequently lost to follow-up evaluation had fractured the interposition allograft cartilage following a fall and had recurrence of subluxation and pain. This patient was treated with arthrodesis of the thumb TM joint. At last report, the patient was doing well with a solid arthrodesis 9 months after the second surgery. Discussion The major strategies in motion-preserving treatments for arthritis of the thumb TM joint have included simple excision of the trapezium,1,2,5,6 trapeziectomy and interposition (ie, silicone rubber, tendon graft),3,14,23–25 ligament reconstruction,13,26 The Journal of Hand Surgery / Vol. 25A No. 1 January 2000 73 Table 2. Responses to Specific Questions on the DASH Questionnaire Score (%) Outcome Category 1 (No Difficulty) 2 (Mild Difficulty) 3 (Moderate Difficulty) 4 (Severe Difficulty) 5 (Unable) Open a jar Writing Turning a key Prepare a meal Push a heavy door Place an object on a shelf Heavy household chore Yard work Make a bed Carry a bag or briefcase Carry an object heavier than 10 pounds Change a light bulb Wash hair Wash back Pull on a sweater Cut food with a knife Light recreational activity Recreational activity with impact Recreational activity with free movement Managed transportation Sexual activity Hand interfere with social activities Limited work activity Severity of pain Hand pain with specific activity Tingling Weakness Stiffness Sleep difficulty Loss of confidence 13 (29) 29 (64) 39 (87) 20 (44) 18 (40) 28 (62) 21 (47) 20 (44) 22 (49) 22 (49) 15 (33) 27 (60) 24 (53) 23 (51) 43 (96) 19 (42) 31 (69) 15 (33) 29 (64) 29 (64) 29 (64) 27 (60) 39 (87) 27 (60) 26 (58) 41 (91) 22 (49) 28 (62) 33 (73) 27 (60) 10 (22) 12 (27) 5 (11) 15 (33) 11 (24) 3 (7) 7 (16) 11 (24) 14 (31) 12 (27) 14 (31) 14 (31) 16 (36) 14 (31) 1 (2) 15 (33) 12 (27) 16 (36) 9 (20) 8 (18) 15 (33) 10 (22) 5 (11) 8 (18) 9 (20) 0 14 (31) 9 (20) 0 7 (16) 4 (9) 0 0 7 (16) 5 (11) 8 (18) 10 (22) 4 (9) 0 8 (18) 6 (13) 0 4 (9) 5 (11) 0 5 (11) 1 (2) 8 (18) 5 (11) 4 (9) 0 3 (7) 0 5 (11) 8 (18) 4 (9) 8 (18) 0 12 (27) 3 (7) 12 (27) 4 (9) 0 2 (4) 9 (20) 6 (13) 7 (16) 10 (22) 9 (20) 3 (7) 9 (20) 4 (9) 1 (2) 3 (7) 0 5 (11) 1 (2) 6 (13) 2 (4) 4 (9) 1 (2) 5 (11) 0 5 (11) 2 (4) 0 1 (2) 8 (18) 0 8 (18) 6 (13) 0 1 (2) 2 (2) 2 (4) 0 0 0 0 0 1 (2) 0 0 0 1 (2) 1 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 and ligament reconstruction with interposition.7,12,27,28 The rationale behind the ligament reconstruction is to recreate the palmar oblique ligament after the trapezium has been removed.13 The stabilizing effect of the TM joint capsule and the ligaments is well documented.26,29 Although portions of the capsule restrain axial rotation, the palmar oblique (beak) ligament is the primary stabilizer in pronation during activities such as lateral pinch.10,30 Instability of the palmar oblique ligament in anatomic specimens has been shown to correlate with a predictable pattern of biochemical breakdown of the articular cartilage, especially in the palmar regions of the TM joint.10,29 There are theoretical advantages to reconstructing the palmar oblique ligament, but no study has compared ligament reconstruction with or without interposition materials with simple trapeziectomy or trapeziectomy with the use of interposition materials. Even though silicone rubber implants demonstrated early success,24,31,32 findings of silicone synovitis prompted a switch from the use of silicone rubber implants to tendon interposition grafts.17,18,25 The value of ligament reconstruction arthroplasties appears to be the ability to prevent proximal migration of the thumb metacarpal with the resultant instability and pain due to compression of the metacarpal against the scaphoid. At a 2-year follow-up evaluation Burton and Pellegrini9 used stress radiographs to demonstrate a proximal thumb migration of 11% compared with the immediate postoperative radiographs. At a 9.4-year follow-up examination of the same group of patients, similar stress radiographs produced a 13% decrease in arthroplasty height.12 Using the same technique as Burton and Pellegrini9 and Tomaino et al,12 Lins et al11 demonstrated a 33% reduction in the trapezial space when radiographs before and after arthroplasty were compared. The results of the current study differ significantly from these procedures because only a partial trapeziectomy is required. Using this technique there was a 74 Trumble et al / Thumb Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthritis 0.7-mm increase in the TM distance in the initial postoperative radiographs compared with the preoperative radiographs. Although a 47% loss in height of the implant occurred, the net loss in the trapezial space was only 22%. The greater loss of trapezial space in the report by Lins et al11 compared with the results of Tomaino et al12 suggests that the ligament reconstruction may have a variable effect on preventing proximal migration of the thumb metacarpal. This evidence suggests that the costochondral allograft arthroplasty with only partial resection of the trapezium prevents proximal migration of the thumb metacarpal with a shorter period of immobilization compared with other techniques for treating basal joint arthritis of the thumb. Furthermore, no temporary internal fixation is required with this technique because of the stability provided by the allograft spacer combined with the tendon weave. We acknowledge that this technique using a tenodesis of the FCR tendon through a bone tunnel in the trapezium, a drill hole in the cartilage interposition allograft, and a drill hole in the thumb metacarpal does not reconstruct the biomechanical alignment provided by the palmar oblique ligament. However, no studies have actually confirmed that the ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition can recreate the stability of the palmar oblique ligament. Based on the facts that only 22% of the initial trapezial height is lost at the final follow-up examination and that subluxation averaged only 16% after surgery compared with 21% before surgery, it appears that this technique offers sufficient stability to prevent proximal thumb metacarpal migration despite the lack of reconstruction of the palmar oblique ligament. Similar to the findings noted in previous studies, the clinical data in this outcomes analysis demonstrate a high degree of patient satisfaction, with 38 of the 41 patients (92%) willing to undergo the procedure again. In 34 patients (82%) there was no pain restricting work activities. In 39 patients (95%) there was no pain with activities of daily living. In a long-term follow-up evaluation of the ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition technique, Tomaino et al12 demonstrated a 10-kgf (93%) increase in grip strength and a 0.4-kgf (34%) improvement in pinch strength. Using identical surgical techniques, Lins et al11 noted a 5.9-kgf increase in grip strength (50%) and a 1.4-kgf increase in pinch strength (42%). In our study, grip strength improved from 16 kgf before surgery to 21 kgf after surgery (31% increase) and pinch strength improved from 3.4 kgf before surgery to 4.6 kgf after surgery (35% increase). Similar to the data reported by Lins et al11 using measurements of the absolute distance between the thumb and the index finger proximal interphalangeal joint, the patients in this study had improved thumb abduction measured as angular motion. Improvements in grip and pinch strength and thumb motion noted by the patients in this study were similar to those noted by Lins et al,11 who had a 43-month average follow-up period compared with the 42-month average follow-up period in this study. The follow-up period in the study of Tomaino et al12 averaged 108 months. In contrast to the study of Lins et al,11 this study demonstrated that the ability to maintain the trapezial space after surgery was associated with better patient outcome as assessed by the DASH questionnaire. Improvements in postoperative grip and pinch strength not only correlated with better outcome scores on the DASH questionnaire, but also with maintenance of the trapezial space, as evidenced by the TM height and decreased subluxation of the metacarpal in relationship to the trapezium. This evidence suggests the need to clarify the issue of technique-dependent trapezial collapse, which at present is unresolved. In their 1998 report introducing a double interposition arthoplasty technique for the treatment of stage IV arthritis in which the trapezium is maintained, Barron and Eaton32A reported an 8% collapse of the basal joint under axial load but did not report subluxation, thereby preventing a meaningful comparison. The differences may reflect the differences in the biomechanics of a partial trapezial resection arthroplasty compared with a complete trapezial resection arthroplasty, as reported by Lins et al11 and Tomaino et al.12 Certain limitations regarding this retrospective study are acknowledged. Our measurements of the preoperative functional status and patient expectations by postoperative questionnaire rely on patients’ ability to recall information years after surgery, which may influence subjective outcomes measurements. Ideally, the patients should have completed the questionnaires before surgery and at the final follow-up visit, but no validated outcome tools were available when the patients had their surgeries performed.19,33 The strength of this study should be acknowledged as well. It provides comprehensive assessment of both objective and subjective outcomes. It has become well established that questionnaires can elicit reliable and valid information regarding patient status.19,33,34 Patient-centered The Journal of Hand Surgery / Vol. 25A No. 1 January 2000 75 outcome assessments may be the most important operative outcome.34,35 The DASH questionnaire was chosen because it is an outcome tool that is directed to the upper extremity without specifically focusing on a single condition, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.19,33 The DASH questionnaire has been validated as an outcome tool. Other validated outcome tools, such as the SF-36, provide excellent general information regarding the patient’s wellbeing but do not focus on the specific hand functions involving grip strength, pinch strength, or dexterity.20 The collection of both subjective and objective data was particularly helpful in pointing out persistent limitations in function with such routine activities as jar opening, yard work, etc, with a procedure generally reported to provide excellent results involving many different techniques for arthroplasty of the basal joint of the thumb. These functional data from the patient questionnaires point to the need for improved techniques for the treatment of basal joint arthritis of the thumb to allow the patients to perform a wider variety of activities without pain. The advantage of the allograft cartilage interposition arthroplasty with the FCR tenodesis is the ability to provide a very stable reconstruction of the TM joint of the thumb without requiring pin fixation. In our experience, which includes performing over 40 basal joint surgeries with the ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition procedure as described by Burton and Pellegrini,9,13 irritation from the pin was a common problem. The allograft interposition avoids the problems of pin irritation and the need for any additional bracing after the first 8 weeks after surgery. The procedure does not reconstruct the palmar oblique ligament, but the data presented by Lins et al11 indicate that the ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition procedure may not fully reconstruct the ligament or prevent proximal migration of the thumb metacarpal. Our data suggest that there is high patient satisfaction and improved objective measurements of grip and pinch strength and thumb abduction with this technique of basal joint arthroplasty. Costochondral allograft interposition arthroplasty with tenodesis of the FCR is a safe and effective treatment method for treating patients with isolated TM arthritis. The patients have a shorter period of postoperative immobilization compared with patients undergoing the ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition technique and they do not require temporary K-wire fixation. The correlation between the TM distance and TM subluxation and the function outcome suggest the need to develop treatments that maintain the stability and height of the TM articulation. There are very little data regarding the effect of long-term cartilage allograft implants. There are no reports involving implanted costochondral allografts. There are reports of transplanted meniscal cartilage.36,37 In these reports the allografts were transplanted to replace the damaged menisci in the knee; the integrity of the meniscus was maintained at follow-up examination. The transplanted menisci appeared to decrease the rate of joint degeneration compared with control joints without a meniscus. The role of the menisci was clearly different from the costochondral allograft used in this study. These reports only provide short-term follow-up information. The lack of an inflamatory response is encouraging but longer-term follow-up studies are necessary. References 1. Gervis WH. Excision of the trapezium for osteoarthritis of the trapezio-metacarpal joint. J Bone Joint Surg 1949;31B: 537–539. 2. Gervis WH. A review of excision of the trapezium for osteoarthritis of the trapezio-metacarpal joint after twentyfive years. J Bone Joint Surg 1973;55B:56 –57. 3. Dell PC, Brushart TM, Smith RJ. 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