Abstract
We performed 10 fusions of the first carpometacarpal (CM) joints in 10 patients (3 males and 7 females), mean age: 64 years ranging from 29 to 75 years. All patients had clinical and radiological evidences of osteoarthrosis. In the adjacent joints roentgenographic evidence of degenerative arthrosis was present in 7 cases. The mean follow-up period was 2 years and 10 months (range: 7 months to 7 years and 3 months). All patients obtained relief of pain and improvement of pinch and grip strengths and ADL. There was no pseudoarthrosis. No one had increased degenerative changes of the other joints of trapezium. We concluded that arthrodesis is a satisfactory procedure for patients who need a stable and painless thumb.
