CMC Arthroplasty with STABLYX Implant

Thanks for your helpful information Greg. I'm in Southern Oregon and wondered if you could share the Clinic Name and/or Surgeon as Im VERY interested in this Stablyx for both CMC joints. Thank you, Sandy.

I had the Stayblyx implant done in October 2021. I was told that this was the latest and greatest procedure to fix arthritis in my thumb. I also have a female friend that had the CMC Arthoplasty done at the same time done the traditional way. Needless to say, I wish I would have had the traditional surgery. She is back at 90% and I have very limited use of my right hand because of the pain. It is worse now than it was prior to having surgery. I’m scheduled for surgery at the end of November on my left thumb and am having the traditional CMC done. I need to find out if they can fix this at some point. If I could do it over again, I wouldn’t have the Stayblyx implant done!

What a great positive report. Pain relief comes at the top of the list. Now comes that hard work of healing and strengthening, don't get discouraged if it takes some time. Please keep us posted on your progress as you go forward.
Sue
PS Don't forget to ice before & after therapy, or any time your hand swells as it heals!

Hello all,

This is my first post here or anywhere for that matter concerning my Stablyx CMC Joint replacement.

I am a 60 year old male and I still work in a machine shop as shipping, inspection, some building maintenance and deliveries. So I use my hands a lot!
I have been having Sevier pain in both hands for several years. I had several rounds of injections which would help with the pain but only for 4-6 weeks. I could only receive these shots every 3 months. After 2 rounds of shots I said enough! What are my options?

So in early in 2019 I was looking for info on this procedure without a lot of results. Thankfully my Ortho Dr., Dr. Duc Vo in the DFW area was able to explain and convince me that at my age and activity level that the Stablyx Joint is the way to go. The standard balling up of tendons to make a joint and the down time for recovery and long time in a cast with many weeks or rehab were not an option for me. I did find some info on YouTube. and watched the procedure. Having been in fabrication of parts, aircraft interior construction and just many years of all kinds of varied mechanical device fabrication, I saw and understood just what Stayblyx was doing here. I went all in.

So on May 23, 2019 I had this procedure done. As with any surgery there is always apprehensions. Let me just say that for my first surgery in 60 plus years on the planet, this went amazingly well. Dr. Vo is great! I went in on a Thursday at 8:00 am and was out by 10:00am.. The pain level was a steady 5-8. Constant pressure with very little Sevier pain. I took a few pain pills over the next few days, maybe 4 total. I kept it iced down and did what I was instructed to do.

10 days later I went in for the follow up where the ace bandage and filler lining that kept my thumb immobile was removed. Other than the bruising and the hidden stitches all was good. I did 6 therapy sessions over the next 3 weeks. The rehab people were amazed at my ability to function. After just 5 weeks out of surgery I was out of rehab. I could do all of their tasks well.

Lets just say that after 5-1/2 months I am doing very well. I still have some pain if I abuse my right hand. The pain is no where near what it was prior to surgery. I am going in on Nov 21, 2019 for the left hand. I guess my nick name may change from Shamu to TWO THUMBS! lol.

I am good with this procedure so far and have ZERO regrets.

SHAMU

I had the Stayblyx implant done in October 2021. I was told that this was the latest and greatest procedure to fix arthritis in my thumb. I also have a female friend that had the CMC Arthoplasty done at the same time done the traditional way. Needless to say, I wish I would have had the traditional surgery. She is back at 90% and I have very limited use of my right hand because of the pain. It is worse now than it was prior to having surgery. I’m scheduled for surgery at the end of November on my left thumb and am having the traditional CMC done. I need to find out if they can fix this at some point. If I could do it over again, I wouldn’t have the Stayblyx implant done!

Hello Richard, and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are a community of people, living with a variety of diseases and conditions, who try to share our experiences and help each other on our journeys. We are not medical professionals, hence we do not give medical advice.

I am a now retired female, very active seamstress, gardener and involved grandma who has had CMC repair done on both thumbs. At my age, I also have a great many friends who have had the procedure as well. So I will share some of that.

Based on the experience of friends, and on previous hand and wrist surgeries, I knew I needed to find and experienced hand surgeon, who does many CMC procedures and uses more than one technique. I did this by consulting with my trusted hand therapist and hip surgeon to see who in our area had the best results and reputation. You obviously have had the advantage of watching the surgeons in action.

I had each thumb done when it was at about 50-65% and steroid injections didn't help any more. The doctor cautioned that if I waited longer, I was in danger of requiring complete fusion surgery. This is the first thing to discuss with your hand surgeon. I had two friends who didn't believe me, waited until the joints collapsed, and ended up with full fusion and limited use.

The first surgery was 2 1/2 years ago, the surgeon explained 3 techniques, the traditional "anchovy" using tendon from my arm, "tightrope" surgery using two anchors and a nylon(?) tightrope to keep everything aligned, and using an introduced blood clot in place of the tendon.
He recommended the "tightrope" as having higher success and a shorter healing time. I was at 65% 8 weeks post surgery, 80% at 3 months. I was back to sewing and tending toddlers after 8 weeks. Occasional swelling occurred with overuse for about 6 months. I now have full use of that hand, but haven't tried doing CPR!

In June, I knew the second hand, my dominant left needed to be done, and I was as at maybe 50%, and found a new surgeon (the first, most excellent one moved away.) I asked about an implant because a friend had gotten it, and it seemed successful after a year. As a petite female with advanced osteoarthritis, my hand surgeon told me he would not consider Stablyx implants because they are (his word) finicky and he felt I didn't have enough bone for successful fusion. We again selected the tightrope as the best method, his placement of the pins and tightrope was a bit different than the first, and at 6 months I have 90% recovery on that hand and better range of motion than the first, with no pain or swelling.

I have spent much of 2020 sewing (masks and quilts) manipulating large swaths of fabric and using rotary cutters extensively with this new repair, and can say it was a success. After observing numerous friends have the CMC repairs with varying success, I believe that no matter which avenue you choose, the key is faithful PT/OT to recover use and strength. My friend and I who were diligent have few if any limits to what we can do. Others who were less so have more stiffness, pain and weaker grip.

Side note: With properly functioning thumbs, arthritis pain has subsided in my hands a bit as I am using them correctly again, not always trying to compensate for the painful, useless thumbs.

I wish you luck with whichever option you choose. If I were considering Stablyx, knowing it can fail, I would ask the surgeon what my options would be if it turned out not to work..
Sue