Osteotomy of the first metacarpal for osteoarthrosis of the basal joints of the thumb.

A radial, 30 degrees wedge osteotomy was used for treatment of osteoarthrosis of the trapeziometacarpal joint in 18 patients, 16 women and two men, mean age of 61 years (range 38-74). Six of them had involvement of the scaphotrapezial joint. After a mean follow-up of 8.5 months (range 2-21) one of the patients were completely satisfied with the result of the operation, seven were quite satisfied, and two considered themselves unchanged. None was made worse. Of the 12 patients who did not have involvement of the scaphotrapezial joint nine were completely satisfied and three quite satisfied. Grip strength on the operated side was 75.5% (32%-100%), and pulp pinch was 74.5% (30%-100%) of that in the contralateral one. The mobility of the thumb was influenced little by the operation. Wedge osteotomy of the first metacarpal is a simple and safe way of relieving pain, particularly in the early stages of osteoarthrosis of the basal thumb joint.