Pyrocarbon thumb joint replacement

Hello!
I'm 1 week out of surgery & currently in the cast room. I had a splint for 1 week to accommodate swelling.
Attached are my post on photos.
I'm 45 yrs old, work as a Surgical First Assistant- Mayo Eau Claire.
To answer your questions
1) replacement due to arthritis. I had symptoms starting at age. I thought it was from doing too much yard work lol! But it never got better, just worse. I waited about 2 yrs before seeking help...
2) after surgery, I was in a split, now getting casted. I will be in a cast for 6 to 8 weeks.
3) according to my doctor, I will have full use & be 100% pain free & no braces to wear 🙂
I'll have to keep you posted on the therapy after the cast comes Off
-Veronica

I have Stablyx implants in both thumbs. My right thumb was done 10-6-17 & the left was done 2-6-18. I have had great results. I was in a splint for about 3 weeks and then exercises on my own at home. I occasionally get some stiffness and mild pain in my right thumb if I over use it. I am not sure if that is normal or if it is because I have autoimmune inflammatory arthritis.

Where did you have this done?

I don't know if you will get replies from either of these members, neither has been active on Mayo Connect the past couple of years.
Can you tell us more about the procedure you need, and what has been done to preserve your thumbs so far?

Hi Sue,
Yes, I have had at least 10 cortisone shots over the past 5 years. I had an X-ray 5 years ago that showed advanced OA b/l thumbs or cmc jt.
I had an xray last week and it is now severe with some loss of bone from grinding on each other. The pain is significant. I would like to try the biopro modular implant and am looking for docs that do it hopefully in CA and success with this procedure.
Thank you for your time on my behalf.
Melody

I'm not sure how technology has improved in the past 5 years, but my surgeon felt that I had enough bone to try to avoid the implant. He did not, at that time, feel they were durable enough to last 25-30 years.
Have you been advised that an implant would be superior to a repair?

No, I see two hands surgeons next week. I like the idea of a much shorter recovery time especially given I need both.

I think you will find the recovery time for the tightrope/trapeze procedure would be similar to the BioPro implant - in both cases, you need to heal, then do PT. Both are shorter than the healing and recovery with the traditional tendon implant, which typically requires full immobilization for 4-6 weeks before even mild exercise. With my severe OA, I thought I would lose all mobility in my hand and wrist by that time, and PT would take much longer. That was certainly the case with others I knew who had procedure.

It will be interesting to hear what the surgeons advise - be sure to ask whether they use a Certified Hand Therapist for your PT - it is very different than rehabbing larger joints

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!