Rationale: Conservative management, including exercise therapy and orthotic support, has been shown to be effective for osteoarthritis of the thumb CMC joint. All patients should undergo a trial of conservative treatment before considering surgical intervention.
References:
• Kolasinski SL, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Feb;72(2):149-162. doi: 10.1002/acr.24131. Epub 2020 Jan 6. Erratum in: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2021 May;73(5):764. PMID: 31908149.
• Gillis J, Calder K, Williams J. Review of thumb carpometacarpal arthritis classification, treatment and outcomes. Can J Plast Surg. 2011 Winter;19(4):134-8. doi: 10.1177/229255031101900409. PMID: 23204884; PMCID: PMC3249665.
• Helia Sillem, Catherine L. Backman, William C. Miller, Linda C. Li. Comparison of Two Carpometacarpal Stabilizing Splints for Individuals with Thumb Osteoarthritis, Journal of Hand Therapy, Volume 24, Issue 3, 2011, Pages 216-226, ISSN 0894-1130,
• Higgenbotham C, Boyd A, Busch M, Heaton D, Trumble T. Optimal management of thumb basal joint arthritis: challenges and solutions. Orthop Res Rev. 2017 Nov 23;9:93-99. doi: 10.2147/ORR.S138809. PMID: 30774481; PMCID: PMC6209361.