Trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis after proximal row carpectomy: Treatment with a total joint arthroplasty

The authors report a case of trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis in a 58-year-old woman with low functional demand. The patient had a proximal row carpectomy for posttraumatic radiocarpal arthritis. The authors decided to perform arthroplasty using a total GUEPAR trapeziometacarpal prosthesis to conserve carpal stability of the first column. Eight years after the surgery, the patient is free of pain and her thumb movement is similar to the opposite thumb. No radiographic changes were observed. No similar cases have been reported in the literature. Prosthesis insertion could be a reasonable option for this indication to give long-term painless mobility and stability. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.