[Interposition and Suspension Arthroplasty of Carpometacarpal Joint of the Thumb Using the TIE-IN Implant]. / Interpozicní a závesná artroplastika korenového kloubu palce ruky pomocí implantátu TIE-IN.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The aim of the study was to present the surgical technique combining the interposition and suspension arthroplasty using the TIE-IN implant as a treatment option for advanced symptomatic to final stage rhizarthrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Since 2015 we have performed the interposition arthroplasty combined with suspension arthroplasty using the TIE-IN implant in 12 patients, mostly indicated for stage IV rhizarthrosis. In two cases stage III rhizarthrosis with concomitant trapezium destruction was present. In two other cases the patients suffered from secondary osteoarthrosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Pain under loads was present in all the patients, of whom in 10 patients also the pain at rest occurred. Preoperatively, a total of 10 patients showed subluxation of the first carpometacarpal joint of 50% of the articular surface width. The ratio between the dominant and non-dominant extremity was 1:1. As a part of the evaluation, correlation was established between the preoperative findings and the postoperative results at 3 months follow-up. The examination included the assessment of pain intensity by VAS scale, the range of motion measurement - by Kapandji thumb opposition test, handgrip strength test and functional evaluation using the scoring systems - DASH score, modified DASH score for thumb, and modified Wrightington score. RESULTS No intraoperative or postoperative complications such as infection, complex regional pain syndrome, implant failure or failed surgical procedure were reported in the given group of patients. The pain at rest ceased in all 12 patients. The VAS pain intensity score improved from the preoperative average of 5.8 to 0.8 postoperatively. The range of motion in all the patients with stage IV rhizarthrosis substantially improved. The average Kapandji thumb opposition score increased from 6.9 preoperatively to 9.5 postoperatively. DISCUSSION There are multiple surgical treatment options for advanced rhizarthrosis. Apart from the combination of interposition and suspension arthroplasty referred to above, it is trapeziometacarpal (TMC) arthrodesis on the one hand and carpometacarpal joint total arthroplasty on the other hand. The arthrodesis continues to be a fairly frequently used procedure, despite the final limitation of thumb movement. It is because of this loss of fine motor function why it is not the preferred technique for treating advanced rhizarthrosis at our department. On the very contrary, the total replacement of the TMC joint is at our department as well as at many other departments the treatment of choice for advanced symptomatic rhizarthrosis since in conservative resection of the articular surfaces the biomechanics of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is preserved. As an outcome, this technique combines the advantages of other surgical methods by ensuring full painless range of motion and strength of the joint as opposed to other techniques, which mostly result either in a limited movement, or in a loss of grip strength. There is a whole range of resection arthroplasty techniques available. From simple trapeziectomy, which leads to the radial column collapse and ultimately to a major functional deficit, up to various interposition or suspension arthroplasty techniques with the resulting range of motion, stability and thus grip strength depending on the technique applied. CONCLUSIONS By applying the combination of the interposition and suspension arthroplasty of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb using the TIE-IN implant we preserve the length of the thumb, its stability, and thus achieve the recovery of adequate thumb range of motion and grip strength. Our conclusions are in correlation with the results obtained at reference centres. Key words:rhizarthrosis, trapeziometacarpal prosthesis, arthroplasty, trapezium implant.

[Surgical Treatment for Advanced Rhizarthrosis. Comparison of Results of the Burton-Pellegrini Technique and Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthroplasty]. / Srovnání výsledku operacní lécby rhizartrózy metodou interpozicní artroplastiky dle Burtona-Pellegriniho a implantací trapeziometakarpální endoprotézy.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to compare results of the Burton-Pellegrini trapeziectomy with ligamentoplasty using the flexor carpi radialis tendon with those of trapeziometacarpal joint replacement in the treatment of advanced rhizarthrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 17 patients, 15 men and two women, underwent trapeziectomy with ligamentoplaty; in 12 of them, the dominant hand was involved. The trapeziometacarpal joint prosthesis Beznoska was implanted in 11 patients (10 men and one woman) with seven dominant and four non-dominant hands. All patients pre-operatively experienced pain during thumb movement and hand grip. They were examined before surgery and at 3, 6 and 12 months after it; the values obtained before and at 1 year after surgery were compared. The methods of evaluation included pain intensity assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the Kapandji thumb opposition test and the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score (total DASH score and its thumb-targeted module). RESULTS: In the group treated by the Burton-Pellegrini procedure, the average pre- and post-operative Kapandji scores were 6.4 and 8.9, respectively. The average VAS scores were 5/10 pre-operatively and 1/10 post-operatively. The average values for the total pre- and post-operative DASH scores were 58 and 19 points, respectively. The DASH score in a thumb-targeted module assessing basal joint-loading in the thumb was 63 points before and 21 points after surgery. In the patients with total joint replacement, the average pre- and post-operative values were as follows: Kapandji score, 7.4 and 9.8; VAS score, 5/10 and 1/10; total DASH score, 56 and 7 points; thumb module DASH score, 60 and 11 points. Two serious complications were recorded, an infection in resection interposition arthroplasty and a trauma associated with total joint replacement loosening. Four patients showed transient paresthesia. DISCUSSION: Several methods for surgical treatment of rhizarthrosis are available today. Arthrodesis is still a widely used procedure although it inhibits thumb movements. Resection arthroplasty provides sufficient pain-free thumb motion, but radial shortening and a loss of grip strength are its disadvantages. Resection interposition arthroplasty results in sufficient painless motion. Tendon interposition provides enough stability for the thumb and for sufficient grip and pinch strength. The disadvantages of this method include a potential for failure of the suspensory tendon during over exercising or a weakened attachment of the autologous tendon to the bone and thus a risk of rupture. Total joint replacement respects the thumb anatomy, preserves the articular capsule and fibrous structures during conservative resection of joint surfaces and keeps the biomechanics of the basal joint of the thumb. It combines advantages of the other surgery procedures, by allowing for a painless range of motion in the joint and vital pinching and gripping abilities, while avoiding their disadvantages such as movement restriction and loss of grip strength. However, the technique may still bear any of the risks associated with foreign material implantation (dislocation, replacement failure, infection, etc.). CONCLUSIONS: The two techniques present valuable contributions to the treatment of advanced rhizarthrosis. In our patients, better outcomes are shown in trapeziometacarpal joint replacement though, in comparison with resection interposition arthroplasty, the indication criteria for this surgery are limited by factors such as the height of the trapezium bone and bone quality necessary for good osseointegration.