The ABJS 2005 Nicolas Andry Award: osteoarthritis and injury at the base of the human thumb: survival of the fittest?

The basal joint complex, consisting of four trapezial articulations providing a foundation for the thumb, defines our anatomic evolution from a Simian ancestry by providing an opposable member. Ironically, the trapeziometacarpal joint also is responsible for the most common malady leading to operative reconstruction in the upper limb for arthritic disease. The paradoxic relationship between these two facts has stimulated investigation that has defined the scientific basis for common surgical procedures and provided a foundation for the development of novel treatments for conditions at the base of the thumb. Patterns of articular surface degeneration are determined by areas of contact loading in the joint. Ligament reconstruction, metacarpophalangeal joint flexion splinting, and extension metacarpal osteotomy for early disease resulting from instability all have biomechanical justification for their clinical application. Likewise, percutaneous pinning of Bennett's fracture dislocation is predicated on reestablishing functional continuity of the beak ligament and unloading the palmar joint surfaces. For advanced disease, ligament reconstruction has become the cornerstone of arthroplasty. Perhaps most importantly, the trapeziometacarpal joint as an instability model can provide insight into the interplay of mechanical and biological factors in producing the primary lesion associated with osteoarthritis.