Abstract
Thumb Carpometacarpal (CMC) arthritis is a common pathology of the hand. Surgical treatment with thumb reconstruction is well described. Retrospective outcomes have been described for multiple techniques, suggesting patient satisfaction with multiple different techniques. The Thompson technique uses a slip of Abductor Pollicis Longus for suspension and interposition as well as excision of the trapezium. Retrospective outcomes suggest good patient satisfaction. We describe the improvement in Patient rated outcomes scores (PROS) and changes in pinch and grip strength in a prospectively collected cohort of patients treated with a modification of the Thompson technique.
To assess changes in Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QDASH) scores, as well as to determine the percentage of patients that surpassed the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) figure that has been described in the literature for these tests. In addition, measurements for evaluation of pinch and grip strength prior to surgery, at six, and at twelve months follow-up were done.
Between June 2016 and February 2019, a consecutive prospective series of Thirty-seven LRTI procedures with APL suspension arthroplasty (Thompson technique) were performed on 34 patients with osteoarthritis of the thumb CMC joint (24 women / 13 men; age 63±8.553). All surgeries were performed by the senior surgeon. Data was collected as part of a wrist pain database. Patients failing conservative treatment and electing surgical management of thumb arthritis were enrolled into the database. Patients were evaluated pre-operatively with the PRWE and QDASH questionnaires and grip and pinch strength measurements, and postoperatively at 6 and 12 months. The MCID for QDASH and PRWE is 14 and will be evaluated at the same time points for each patient. Paired student T-test was used to determine differences in the means. Data are presented as mean ± SD unless stated otherwise. Differences with p<.05 were considered significant.
Compared to the pre-operative assessment, at six months, the means of PRWE pain score and PRWE functional score decreased significantly (32.824 SD±10.721 vs. 19.265 SD±12.268 and 30.262 SD±10.050 vs. 16.431 SD± 9.697 respectively, n=34,, p<0.05). 69% of the patients surpassed the MCID of 14 six months after the surgery. In addition, QDASH mean score also dropped from 56.108 to 32.219 (SD± 21.375 n=32. p<0.05) at six months. At one year, 76% of the patients were above the MCID of 14. The mean scores of these three questionnaires did not show significant change between six and twelve months. Compared to the initial pre-operative assessment, we found no statistically significant difference in the means of grip strength, point pinch, and lateral key pinch at six and twelve months.
Thumb reconstruction with APL suspension arthroplasty demonstrates significant improvement in pain and functionality. No significant improvement in grip and pinch strength is observed, even at one year postoperatively.
