Removing the trapezium does come with additional risks, such as a loss of pinch strength and a potentially shortened thumb. Risks of the surgery Nerve damage There is a rare possibility that an area of numbness may occur along the side of the thumb. For a trapeziectomy with LRTI, the surgeon will typically: It usually takes 60 to 90 minutes to complete a trapeziectomy. strength of the thumb pinch can take six months. Thumb sprains are common injuries where a ligament stretches or tears within your thumb joint. Examine your thumb, and youll feel two bones, known as phalanges. Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair with Suture Tape Augmentation. If the bandages get wet, they'll need to be replaced. The suture is then used to repair the ligament as is done traditionally. When youre skiing, be sure to let go of your ski poles if youre falling instead of holding onto them. First, your hand will be immobilized for a few days. Non-surgical treatments, such as cortisone injections, may be enough to relieve your symptoms. Wininger AE, et al. Its usually a good idea to make sure its only a mild sprain and not a more serious sprain or a different injury. A trapeziectomy is a surgery used to treat trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, also known as thumb arthritis. How long will it take to heal a torn ligament? - Physiosunit You may also need to take a break from certain drugs or supplements you take several days before surgery as they may promote bleeding or interfere with anesthesia. She serves as an assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine, and practices in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The benefit from both procedures was the same. Immediately after surgery, a person should be able to move their finger or thumb. 2023 Healthline Media LLC. To ensure the best possible outcome, follow these simple, self-care instructions: A trapeziectomy is a surgery used to treat thumb arthritis when conservative treatments fail. SEBASTIAN KAULITZKI / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images. Hand Surgery Recovery Time: Pain, Exercise & Complications This technique involves removing the trapezium and temporarily installing a wire (called a Kirschner wire or K-wire) to immobilize your thumb. What Is the Recovery Time for Appendicitis Surgery? Torn Ligament: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment Any kind of injury to the wrist joint can alter how the joint works. It may also be done under a general anesthesia. A thumb sprain is also a common skiing injury from falling with the ski pole still in your hand, which is why thumb sprains are sometimes called skiers thumb. A thumb sprain (sometimes called skiers thumb or gamekeepers thumb) happens when a ligament (tissue that connects bones at a joint) in your thumb stretches too much or tears. If a bone fracture is present, the surgeon may repair it with non-removable wires. Ligament reconstruction is another option for treating arthritis in the thumb. 001). In LRTI, all or part of the trapezium bone is removed from the wrist and the remaining surfaces of the CMC and STT joints are smoothed out. DOI: Rath L. (n.d.). Overview of Hand Surgery | Johns Hopkins Medicine Physical therapy typically begins four to six weeks after surgery. Jan 19, 2020 Your surgeon will make an incision on the skin over your thumb joint. Cartilage permits free movement of one bone against another. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Theyll then perform a physical exam to assess the stability of your thumb joint and where the pain is coming from to determine if the injury is or isnt a sprain and how severe the injury is. Two to four weeks after the surgery, the dressing or the cast will be changed to a light plastic splint. A hole is drilled in the metacarpal bone of the thumb and the free end of the FCR tendon is passed through it and sewn back onto itself. But theres less research available to support their effectiveness. There may be some restrictions placed on activities and work after the surgery. Whats the Difference Between Arthrodesis and Arthroplasty? Thumb arthritis typically refers to the pain someone experiences due to . Prevention Slings arent used, to avoid stiffness of the shoulder. Though the surgery is successful in stabilizing the thumb, it is followed by a minimum six-month recovery time before the patient regains their strength and grasp, Ruch says. Thumb-basal joint arthroplasty outcomes and metacarpal subsidence: A prospective cohort analysis of trapeziectomy with suture button suspensionplasty versus ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition. This carries the imposing name of scaphotrapeziotrapezoidal (STT) joint. Patients with a sedentary job can return to work in as little as one week, although their activities may require modification for several weeks. Those who experience chronic pain due to arthritis should consider the alternative treatment options. The likelihood of having complications from a thumb sprain depends on how severe it is and which ligament was affected. After the surgery, the thumb will be placed in a cast to protect the joint. After some surgeries, the hand may be immobilized for months at nighttime to enhance recovery. Both thumb sprains and thumb strains usually cause pain. Quick note: A complete rupture or disintegration of a ligament will most likely require surgery. Cedars-Sinai Staff. Take a piece of tendon from your wrist muscle. Here's how it works: As in conventional surgery, Shin drills a hole in the bone at the location of the tear. The procedure can result in swelling and bruising, and there is a chance of infection. Youll get a thumb splint known as a spica splint, which attaches to your forearm. . (2021). (2016). Joints are formed where two bones meet. Because the thumb is a very mobile joint, it lacks the stability to withstand repetitive stress and wears down easily over time. How long after UCL surgery can you hit? After a month, surgical dressings will be changed and range-of-motion exercises will be recommended. The flexor carpi radialis is passed through a hole that is drilled in the thumbs metacarpal bone and is placed in the space that was formerly occupied by the trapezium. Shonuga O, et al. This splint helps protect the surgical repair and lessens swelling. Experiencing limited function and range of motion in your thumb.