The thumb is the most common place in the hand to develop arthritis. Thumb arthritis results from the breakdown of cartilage within the joint at the base of the thumb. This results in inflammation and pain with everyday tasks, such as grasping, gripping, and pinching.
Thumb Arthritis
Cartilage in the thumb joint can break down over time with normal wear and tear or after injury to the thumb. Thumb arthritis causes pain, stiffness, and swelling at the base of the thumb, which can decrease range of motion and strength.
Treatment for thumb arthritis focuses on rest and pain-relieving methods to make everyday tasks easier. For ongoing pain that limits daily activities, surgery may be an option for lasting pain relief.
Surgery for thumb arthritis often involves removing a bone called the trapezium from the thumb joint. This helps relieve pressure from the thumb joint and reduce pain. The rest of the thumb can then be secured to another bone to provide stability.
During thumb arthritis surgery, a small incision is made at the base of the thumb. This allows the surgeon to remove the trapezium bone and perform additional steps to stabilize the thumb joint.
