Surgical Rhizarthrosis Treatment: Trapezius Resection Arthroplasty Associated with Tendon Interposition versus the Kuhns Technique

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the clinical and functional outcomes of two surgical procedures performed in patients with severe grade III and IV rhizarthrosis.

Methods

We evaluated 39 patients who underwent two surgical techniques for rhizarthrosis treatment: trapeziectomy using the Kuhns technique or tendon interposition, with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months. The primary outcome assessment used the specific Trapeziometacarpal Arthrosis Symptoms and Disability (TASD) questionnaire, and the secondary outcome evaluation employed the shortened version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire and the visual analog scale (VAS).

Results

There was no statistically significant difference between groups in the TASD, QuickDASH, and VAS results, and both techniques demonstrated good functional and pain outcomes. No complication required a new surgical approach. We found a positive correlation between TASD and QuickDASH questionnaire scores, suggesting their effectiveness in assessing functionality and disability in subjects with rhizarthrosis.

Conclusion

Trapeziectomy using the Kuhns technique and tendon interposition proved effective in the surgical treatment of rhizarthrosis. There was no significant difference between the techniques concerning functional outcomes.

Keywords
orthopedic procedures; osteoarthritis; trapezium bone