Updates
Joint replacement surgery for thumb arthritis – practice modifications

Our department recently commenced a prospective audit on use of two component carpo-metacarpal prosthesis, in management of thumb basal joint arthrosis. Thumb osteoarthritis is a common condition and many patients are in need of surgical input in order to alleviate disability. Immediate and 6 months post surgery results presented below, are encouraging, but monitoring continues.

We are trying to selectively shift from a conventional trapeziectomy (excision of the trapezium, one of 8 wrist joint bones) to joint replacement surgery in patients with early, stage II disease. The aim is to align our practice with new, now well established, worldwide trends and published evidence. Arthroplasty is expensive and not risk-free procedure, so robust data is being collected on short and long term outcomes, aiming to rigorously scrutinised our results against published evidence. Outcome measures, patient feedback, recovery time and cost-effectiveness will be analysed and compared with cohort of patients undergoing trapeziectomy.

Interposition, pyrocarbon implants which served over 30 of my patients very well at a long follow up, are not available in the UK any longer, prompting me to consider alternative joint replacement (arthroplasty) options.

Two weeks after joint replacement surgery

Six months after surgery

RECENTLY PUBLISHED
Leave from April 2024

I am on a professional leave from the UK from April 2024 and unable to handle patients queries. If you need any advice, please feel free to consult one of my Plastic Surgery or Orthopaedics colleagues at Parkside, Spire St Anthony’s, Ashtead or King Edward Hospitals. Details of my new overseas practice will be posted shortly.

Joint replacement surgery for thumb arthritis – practice modifications

Our department recently commenced a prospective audit on use of two component carpo-metacarpal prosthesis, in management of thumb basal joint arthrosis. Thumb osteoarthritis is a common condition and many patients are in need of surgical input in order to alleviate disability. Immediate and 6 months post surgery results presented below, are encouraging, but monitoring continues.

New modified rehabilitation regime for internally fixed metacarpal fractures

Metacarpal fractures account for 40% of all hand injuries and up to 44% of all hand fractures. While we are still collecting and processed data, preliminary results are suggesting that splint is neither needed, nor beneficial for patients who have undergone uncomplicated, rigid, internal fixation of metacarpal fractures.

Ten year study on use of special implants for thumb arthritis published in JHS

In my practice, interposition arthroplasty using pyrocarbon implants still represents a useful and reliable treatment option in the surgical treatment of early thumb basal joint arthritis.

Contact

All enquiries are handled

by the Practice Manager:

Rachel Gould

Tel: +44 (0) 845 026 7776

Email: contact@sonjacerovac.com

Correspondence address:

Miss Sonja Cerovac

Ashtead Hospital

The Warren

Ashtead, Surrey KT21 2SB