Base of thumb arthritis and 1st intermetacarpal ligament
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessment of relationship between 1st intermetacarpal ligament characteristics and metacarpal subsidence after trapeziectomy for base of thumb arthritis
IRAS ID
131925
Contact name
Reza Arya
Contact email
Research summary
Osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint (the joint that joins the base of thumb to the wrist) is a common condition characterised by base of the thumb pain, reduction in movement and decrease in the functional ability of the hand.
A variety of treatment options exist with surgery reserved for about 30% of cases where conservative treatment has failed.
The commonest surgical approach is trapeziectomy (removal of arthritic wrist bone called trapezium) and a variable approach to prevent thumb metacarpal subsidence (sinking). If subsidence happens after the operation, the base of the thumb will impinge on the next wrist bone called scaphoid, this impingement would lead to return of the symptoms of pain.Most of the stabilising structures of the thumb metacarpal bone (the bone in the palm of the hand relating to the thumb) are at risk during a trapeziectomy operation. Intermetacarpal ligament is a stabilising ligament that connects the thumb metacarpal bone to the index finger metacarpal. (Metacarpal bones are the bones of the palm of the hand relating to each finger). The intermetacarpal ligament is less at risk and might have a stabilising effect on thumb metacarpal bone after the operation and as such it might prevent subsidence of the thumb and recurrence of the symptoms after the operation.
To date there are no studies to assess the possible role of this ligament and its characteristics in subsidence of the thumb.
Our study aims to identify the correlation between intermetacarpal ligament weakness and metacarpal subsidence. In such way there might be a possibility of pre-operative identification of patients who are at risk of subsidence following trapeziectomy in future. In such cases during this procedure a stage of intermetacarpal ligament stabilisation can be included.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/0142
Date of REC Opinion
2 May 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion