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HAND SURGERY

Explore surgical options for relief of Arthritis at the Base of the Thumb

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WHY UNDERGO SURGERY FOR

Arthritis at the Base of the Thumb?

The thumb allows for a wide range of grasping and pinching motions, and when we lose use of it due to arthritis pain, it compromises quality of life. There are several options for pain relief of arthritis in this critical location. When non-surgical options such as exercise, pain relief with heat and ice, and treatments such as massage fail to work, surgery is a good option for relief.

Dr. Okada Surgery Options Preparation FAQs

 

Haruko Okada, MD

Physician & Owner, Stratus Plastic Surgery

Our hands and arms are critical to our enjoyment of life and Stratus understands how debilitating hand conditions and injury can be. As an American Board of Plastic Surgery-certified surgeon with Subspecialty Certification in Surgery of the Hand (SOTH, formerly CAQ), Dr. Okada specializes in treating a variety of complex hand conditions, providing results that restore movement and function.

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Options for Arthritis at the Base of the Thumb Surgery

 

Dr. Okada will consult with you to determine the best procedure for your surgery. The goal of the chosen procedure is to increase the range of motion and your ability to perform tasks involving grasping and pinching. Dr. Okada often performs a trapeziectomy, (removing the arthritic bone at the base of the thumb) then giving support to the thumb metacarpal by using a portion of a nearby tendon to reconstruct a ligament (LRTI - ligamentous reconstruction tendon interposition). This procedure is often called CMC arthroplasty and trapeziectomy or trapeziectomy and LRTI.

 

 Preparing for Treatment

ARTHRITIS AT THE BASE OF THE THUMB: SURGERY CONCERNS & EXPECTATIONS

  • Initial Assessment

    Dr. Okada will consult with you in our offices to evaluate your condition and determine whether surgery is the best option. X-rays of the hand and wrist are evaluated, and then she will then talk to you about the procedure and prepare you for next steps.

  • During Treatment

    There are many surgical options for treating arthritis in the thumb, and depending on which procedure Dr. Okada selects, the surgery may be more complex. In general, trapeziectomy with LRTI (ligamentous reconstruction tendon interposition) is an outpatient procedure, completed under general anesthesia.

  • Recovery Timeline

    No matter which procedure you have, it will be important to follow the surgeon’s directions explicitly, keeping the wound clean and dry and limiting movement until you are cleared to resume activity (likely 4 to 6 weeks). Physical therapy may be advised.

  • Dr. Haruko Okada is simply the best! As a surgeon myself, my hands are extremely important to me, and I trust her exclusively to care for them. I also often refer my own patients to her for cosmetic surgeries, such as abdominoplasty and liposuction, and they all tell me that they love her. She has an excellent bedside manner, and she always does the right thing for her patients, counseling them appropriately before and after their procedures. I can't recommend her highly enough!

  • Dr. Okada is an extremely talented surgeon. I couldn’t be happier with my results. Dr. Okada and her staff’s professionalism, care, and concern were outstanding from the time of initial outreach and consultation through post-op follow-ups. I highly recommend her for any plastics work you need or want done.

  • Dr Okada took such good care of me. Fantastic bedside manner, responsive to my concerns and I am so happy with my results! The staff at the office were so warm and good humored and also organized.

  • Dr Okada and her staff were amazing, I’ve never been comfortable or felt safe in medical settings my whole life but they made me feel safe and comfortable without even trying. Kelly and Alex were extremely helpful and kind I would recommend this practice to anyone ☺️

Your Questions, Answered.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ARTHRITIS AT THE BASE OF THE THUMB

 
 

Who should consider having this surgery?

If non-surgical treatments have failed and arthritis is impeding the patient’s ability to perform simple tasks involving grasping or pinching, then surgery is a good option.

What are the possible risks of surgery?

As with any surgery, complications and risks are possible. Some of these can include: 

  • Infection

  • Need for reoperation

  • Numbness in the area of incision

  • Tendonitis

  • Stiffness

How can I prepare for surgery? 

There are several things you can do to help your surgical outcome be the best it can be. If you smoke, stop now. Smoking has several effects on blood flow and can delay the healing process after any surgery.

What conditions are a good fit for trapeziectomy and LRTI? 

There are several common problems that can be alleviated with this procedure: Basal joint arthritis, thumb basal joint arthritis, CMC arthritis, carpometacarpal arthritis, osteoarthritis of the thumb, and osteoarthritis of the base of the thumb. 

 
 
 

Considering the next step in your journey?

Complete this form or call our office to schedule your Arthritis at the Base of the Thumb surgical consultation with Dr. Okada today.