Thank you for your info and link. I am 59 years old, USPS retired, but very active handyman. I had a mini CMC joint stabilizing custom splint brace applied to my surgical hand after only five days (cast removed)and the follow-up x-rays at two weeks. My surgeon did not schedule a follow-up exam. I live 150 miles from the surgery center. I am now waiting to hear from that surgery scheduling department about having identical surgery on the opposite thumb, so I guess the surgeon will get a chance to examine his work after all during my pre-op examination. I too have heard optimal results can be expected after one year. It will be 12 weeks post-op tomorrow and I was not expecting to have continued swelling around the surgical area and first finger. I have full use of the hand with obvious weight limitations.
i am getting ready to have my left thumb surgery. my surgeon put me in a soft brace for 6 weeks, not sure why. he would like me to retire first, not sure if i want to go that soon, he also doesn't do the implant surgery, says the other surgery with the tendon has been done for 50 years and it works. all that i have ready regarding the implants seem to be very positive and faster healling. not sure if delivering mail has impacted the problem since its the joint failing but it doesn't help. would you recommend the implant?
Hello @usps123 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sounds like your surgeon is leaning toward recommending the tendon surgery but you are interested in exploring the option for the implant.
Members such as @var122@sueinmn@mapleskoff and @mihalcin have shared various procedures and/or interest in exploring options and may be able to offer you their thoughts.
i am getting ready to have my left thumb surgery. my surgeon put me in a soft brace for 6 weeks, not sure why. he would like me to retire first, not sure if i want to go that soon, he also doesn't do the implant surgery, says the other surgery with the tendon has been done for 50 years and it works. all that i have ready regarding the implants seem to be very positive and faster healling. not sure if delivering mail has impacted the problem since its the joint failing but it doesn't help. would you recommend the implant?
Hey USPS123, That brace thing was a waste of time. I would not recommend the "Anchovy" technique. If you're leaning towards a natural surgery, explore the "tightrope" technique. It sounds like you have a lazy surgeon who has not done much to advance medicine. Does he or she still practice "bloodletting"? I would recommend the Biopro modular implant. I wish I had selected it. I went with the Stablyx implant and I am satisfied but it took a long time to get there.
Almost 2 years post op, dominant hand right hand thumb NuGrip implant. Severe pain post surgery , x-rays showed implant in position post op for 4 months. 5th month, January 2021 pain level increased, July 2021 CT Scan performed, October 2021 second opinion confirmed lucent gaps around the entire implant along with multiple bone cysts. Total implant failure, in pain management now as a result. Doctor should have performed LRTI (using my own tissue) as I have an autoimmune disorder. Now I am worse off, with chronic pain and just turned 40. I would highly advise against anyone getting an implant that is younger (active) than 70ish and or anyone with an autoimmune disorder. Totally avoidable - now a long term disability. I placed 100% faith in a well trained surgeon and now I am left in a significantly worse position.
Almost 2 years post op, dominant hand right hand thumb NuGrip implant. Severe pain post surgery , x-rays showed implant in position post op for 4 months. 5th month, January 2021 pain level increased, July 2021 CT Scan performed, October 2021 second opinion confirmed lucent gaps around the entire implant along with multiple bone cysts. Total implant failure, in pain management now as a result. Doctor should have performed LRTI (using my own tissue) as I have an autoimmune disorder. Now I am worse off, with chronic pain and just turned 40. I would highly advise against anyone getting an implant that is younger (active) than 70ish and or anyone with an autoimmune disorder. Totally avoidable - now a long term disability. I placed 100% faith in a well trained surgeon and now I am left in a significantly worse position.
@whitehatredteam, that sounds rough. Thanks for the warning. Did your surgeon ask or know about your pre-existing autoimmune disorder? Is corrective surgery possible?
@whitehatredteam, that sounds rough. Thanks for the warning. Did your surgeon ask or know about your pre-existing autoimmune disorder? Is corrective surgery possible?
The only correction offered is to remove the implant. By doing this they will need to harvest my forearm ligaments to try and stabilize what once was a joint. It’s a bit risky. At this time all I can do is take pain medication for the severe chronic pain. I have little faith surgery will resolve the issue.
If anyone younger is considering a prosthesis over LRTI - think long and hard. Those implants are not recommended for people who are physical or do any weight bearing work. They are well suited for older less active patients without autoimmune issues.
I can't say that I'd recommend getting a thumb arthroplasty using any implant like the pyro carbon or stablyx systems. Both have a high failure/success rate of about 50%
I've had my cmc joint replacement for almost 3 yrs. I'm a mid-40's female that works in surgery as a Surgical Assistant for almost 27 yrs (I'm the doctor's 3rd & 4th "hand" during surgery).
The short story is this: my implant is loose & needs to be removed. It is eroding the bone that the implant rests on. Not good for someone that needs the dexterity that performing surgical procedures needs.
Based on that, if I were you, I'd get a 2nd opinion from another surgeon before getting an implant based arthroplasty in your thumb.
I have to have another surgery to remove the implant & do the old fashioned, yet super reliable, "anchovy procedure" which is where a tendon ball us placed into the space where the joint is bad instead of an implant.
Hope this helps!
Hello. I’m not sure if you will ever see this, but I can’t really find much, if any, information of people having to have their BioPro CMC implant removed/revised. I know that this frequently has to be done, just can’t find anyone who has been through it, or videos to view the surgery. I have only been able to see the positive outcomes, I’d like to see a video showing how a revision/ removal is done. I am 19 months out of my implant surgery. I had a second surgery this past year, 2022, DQT, which is to free tendons from scar tissue etc., to try to lesson my pain. Things have gotten even worse. My original pain is here, only 100x worse, and it’s been over 600 days, I’m tired. I have basal joint arthritis in both thumbs, and I am holding off doing the other hand until I can find some relief for my dominant hand. I have an appointment tomorrow, with another Dr. to see if he has a PlanC. Can you tell me if you had the revision surgery, and if you have had any improvement…whatsoever? Thank you, I hope that you see this. I hope things got better for you, this is a terrible way to live, I’m only 63.
Not sure but I just had cmc surgery Nov30 but not implant. Surgeon took the arthritic bone out took apiece of tendon from my forearm to put in its place. I watched a you tube video of an actual surgery before having done. Hand surgeon had me do 6 weeks of therapy prior to strengthen thumb and hand. Said it’s 4 month recovery. Am now 6 weeks into recovery. To date has been a picnic compared to my RTS and TKR. I was on anti inflammatory for first 5 weeks. Hope things continue to improve. I have been cleared to now do all my RTS and TKR exercises. Jury is still out for me but I think I’m doing well.
Just you tube surgery you want to see. Asked my surgeon about implants vs tendon surgery, he said there was a lot of failure with implants so this is how they do it now. He is a young hand surgeon.
Best of luck
Not sure but I just had cmc surgery Nov30 but not implant. Surgeon took the arthritic bone out took apiece of tendon from my forearm to put in its place. I watched a you tube video of an actual surgery before having done. Hand surgeon had me do 6 weeks of therapy prior to strengthen thumb and hand. Said it’s 4 month recovery. Am now 6 weeks into recovery. To date has been a picnic compared to my RTS and TKR. I was on anti inflammatory for first 5 weeks. Hope things continue to improve. I have been cleared to now do all my RTS and TKR exercises. Jury is still out for me but I think I’m doing well.
Just you tube surgery you want to see. Asked my surgeon about implants vs tendon surgery, he said there was a lot of failure with implants so this is how they do it now. He is a young hand surgeon.
Best of luck
2021, I made the biggest mistake of my life, getting the implant, and now after a second failed surgery to release bound tendons, from the surgery, I am facing a third very challenging in the same dominant hand,and petrified. Thanks for your response.
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i am getting ready to have my left thumb surgery. my surgeon put me in a soft brace for 6 weeks, not sure why. he would like me to retire first, not sure if i want to go that soon, he also doesn't do the implant surgery, says the other surgery with the tendon has been done for 50 years and it works. all that i have ready regarding the implants seem to be very positive and faster healling. not sure if delivering mail has impacted the problem since its the joint failing but it doesn't help. would you recommend the implant?
Hello @usps123 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sounds like your surgeon is leaning toward recommending the tendon surgery but you are interested in exploring the option for the implant.
Members such as @var122 @sueinmn @mapleskoff and @mihalcin have shared various procedures and/or interest in exploring options and may be able to offer you their thoughts.
Have you scheduled your surgery?
Hey USPS123, That brace thing was a waste of time. I would not recommend the "Anchovy" technique. If you're leaning towards a natural surgery, explore the "tightrope" technique. It sounds like you have a lazy surgeon who has not done much to advance medicine. Does he or she still practice "bloodletting"? I would recommend the Biopro modular implant. I wish I had selected it. I went with the Stablyx implant and I am satisfied but it took a long time to get there.
Almost 2 years post op, dominant hand right hand thumb NuGrip implant. Severe pain post surgery , x-rays showed implant in position post op for 4 months. 5th month, January 2021 pain level increased, July 2021 CT Scan performed, October 2021 second opinion confirmed lucent gaps around the entire implant along with multiple bone cysts. Total implant failure, in pain management now as a result. Doctor should have performed LRTI (using my own tissue) as I have an autoimmune disorder. Now I am worse off, with chronic pain and just turned 40. I would highly advise against anyone getting an implant that is younger (active) than 70ish and or anyone with an autoimmune disorder. Totally avoidable - now a long term disability. I placed 100% faith in a well trained surgeon and now I am left in a significantly worse position.
@whitehatredteam, that sounds rough. Thanks for the warning. Did your surgeon ask or know about your pre-existing autoimmune disorder? Is corrective surgery possible?
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1 ReactionThe only correction offered is to remove the implant. By doing this they will need to harvest my forearm ligaments to try and stabilize what once was a joint. It’s a bit risky. At this time all I can do is take pain medication for the severe chronic pain. I have little faith surgery will resolve the issue.
If anyone younger is considering a prosthesis over LRTI - think long and hard. Those implants are not recommended for people who are physical or do any weight bearing work. They are well suited for older less active patients without autoimmune issues.
Hello. I’m not sure if you will ever see this, but I can’t really find much, if any, information of people having to have their BioPro CMC implant removed/revised. I know that this frequently has to be done, just can’t find anyone who has been through it, or videos to view the surgery. I have only been able to see the positive outcomes, I’d like to see a video showing how a revision/ removal is done. I am 19 months out of my implant surgery. I had a second surgery this past year, 2022, DQT, which is to free tendons from scar tissue etc., to try to lesson my pain. Things have gotten even worse. My original pain is here, only 100x worse, and it’s been over 600 days, I’m tired. I have basal joint arthritis in both thumbs, and I am holding off doing the other hand until I can find some relief for my dominant hand. I have an appointment tomorrow, with another Dr. to see if he has a PlanC. Can you tell me if you had the revision surgery, and if you have had any improvement…whatsoever? Thank you, I hope that you see this. I hope things got better for you, this is a terrible way to live, I’m only 63.
Not sure but I just had cmc surgery Nov30 but not implant. Surgeon took the arthritic bone out took apiece of tendon from my forearm to put in its place. I watched a you tube video of an actual surgery before having done. Hand surgeon had me do 6 weeks of therapy prior to strengthen thumb and hand. Said it’s 4 month recovery. Am now 6 weeks into recovery. To date has been a picnic compared to my RTS and TKR. I was on anti inflammatory for first 5 weeks. Hope things continue to improve. I have been cleared to now do all my RTS and TKR exercises. Jury is still out for me but I think I’m doing well.
Just you tube surgery you want to see. Asked my surgeon about implants vs tendon surgery, he said there was a lot of failure with implants so this is how they do it now. He is a young hand surgeon.
Best of luck
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions2021, I made the biggest mistake of my life, getting the implant, and now after a second failed surgery to release bound tendons, from the surgery, I am facing a third very challenging in the same dominant hand,and petrified. Thanks for your response.