Both trapeziectomy surgery (taking out the small bone at the base of the thumb), and joint replacement are excellent for improving pain related to osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint.
A group from Zurich recently compared the short-term recovery of patients treated with trapeziometacarpal joint (CMCJ/TMJ) replacement as compared to trapeziectomy with suspension-interposition (filling the gap using a tendon graft). Joint replacement patients had better 3 month pain scores and key pinch and these were of a level we consider to be clinically important. By 1 year post operatively the scores were similar, suggesting the trapeziectomy is also very effective for treating thumb base osteoarthritis, but it takes longer before patients are not thinking about their thumb on a daily basis.
Reference: Herren 2023 J Hand Surg Eur - Short-term recovery after implant versus resection arthroplasty in trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis.
For more information see: https://rupertwharton.com/pages/thumb-arthritis
https://rupertwharton.com/blogs/news/can-steroid-injections-help-my-painful-thumb
https://rupertwharton.com/blogs/news/could-exercises-help-my-thumb-pain
https://rupertwharton.com/blogs/news/how-common-is-arthritis-of-the-base-of-the-thumb
https://rupertwharton.com/blogs/news/thumb-cmc-replacement-for-base-of-thumb-arthritis
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Rupert Wharton, Hand surgeon in Central London (King Edward VII) and South West London (New Victoria and Kingston Private Health)
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