Patel, Nick N.

* The thumb carpometacarpal joint is one of the most common locations for degenerative osteoarthritis in the hand. * Conservative therapies include hand therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, splinting, activity modification, and corticosteroid injections. * Surgical treatment is divided into trapezium-preserving procedures in addition to trapezium-sacrificing procedures. Trapezium-preserving procedures, which should be performed when the scaphotrapeziotrapezoidal joint is free of disease, include joint arthroscopy and its associated procedures, carpometacarpal arthrodesis, and implant arthroplasty. When pantrapezial disease is noted, a trapezium-sacrificing technique such as trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition should be used. In cases in which the scaphotrapeziotrapezoidal joint is involved, a resection of the most proximal aspect of the trapezoid is beneficial.