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Thumb arthritis: Did anyone have carpometacarpal (CMC) surgery?
Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: May 17 2:21am | Replies (38)Comment receiving replies
There are alternatives to loosing your FCR tendon (the LRTI procedure) - Tightrope uses biosynthetic string instead of your tendon, Bio Pro and Stablyx are implants that keep your trapezium in place, although cutting the FCR may be required. Each of these procedures offer different outcomes, and are designed to accommodate your needs. What do you want to be able to do after the surgery? With LRTI and Tightrope, you usually get great pain relief, keep your grip strength, but lose your pinch strength - so 4 of the surgeons in my area have explained to me. I had the Stablyx implant (had to go to San Fransisco because all of the surgeons here refused). I had my pinch strength back and stronger in 1 month, but the rest is taking longer. For me, doing the pt exercises post-op is critical, and after almost a year, I still take a moment to do mine, to keep up my strength. Pinch strength is important to me because of my woodworking hobbies - gripping odd-shaped pieces between thumb and forefinger.
Anyway, check out the blogs on these other procedures for other opinions. Hope they help you decide, and hope you get relief from your pain.
Good luck
GregV
Replies to "There are alternatives to loosing your FCR tendon (the LRTI procedure) - Tightrope uses biosynthetic string..."
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Hello! I had the Stablyx implant (prosthesis) surgery in 2018 on my left thumb. Although I had great hand therapy, I had to get another surgery to "clean up scar tissue" in order to relieve significant pain. To this date, motion is limited, with mild pain. However, if I accidentally bump it, the pain is intense. One side effect I don't like, is the feeling that my thumb is disconnected, for lack of a better term. It's difficult to handle small items, due to the tactile insensitivity. I am a woodworker as well! I believe that because this is a prosthesis, that's the reason for the strange sensation. No phantom pain (bc some nerves preserved), but not ideal.
Fast forward to today, and the wear-and -tear- arthritis of doing things I love, has taken it's toll on my right dominant hand. I've been putting it off, but now, it's time. I have decided to NOT go the implant route and to trust my new surgeon with her 26 years of anchovy experience.
I am curious about the "tightrope" option, versus sacrificing a tendon, as tendons are there for a reason. I've heard good and bad, regarding the anchovy procedire. If you had to get your other thumb fixed, which option would you choose?