Scientists from the University Medical Center Rotterdam (Erasmus MC) found that non-surgical treatment of thumb arthritis with orthopedic devices and exercises provides satisfactory results in the long term. The study was published on: Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
The authors analyzed long-term follow-up data of 134 patients with thumb osteoarthritis treated at eight specialized clinics between 2011 and 2015. They wore special orthoses and performed exercises to strengthen the muscles responsible for the movement of the thumb, independently and under the guidance of a trainer.
The greatest improvement was observed in the first three months of active treatment. 16% of the patients evaluated the treatment results as excellent, 65% as good or satisfactory, 14% as average, and 5% as poor. The majority of patients (71%) said they would be willing to receive the same treatment again under similar circumstances. Only 22% of patients required surgery within the next seven years; the majority were in the first year after conservative treatment.
Osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is a common condition in older adults that causes pain and stiffness at the base of the thumb. According to current recommendations, the patient should first be treated conservatively with orthoses, steroid injections, painkillers and special exercises. If these measures fail, surgery may be considered, but this causes high costs, a long recovery time and is not always effective. Previous studies have confirmed the short-term (up to one year) effectiveness of conservative treatment of large joint arthritis, but little work has been done on long-term outcomes. The findings support current recommendations.
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