[Minimally invasive procedures in the early stages of trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis : Denervation, arthroscopy and autologous fat transplantation].

BACKGROUND

Resection arthroplasty of the trapezium with or without tendon interposition is the standard procedure in the treatment of advanced, symptomatic thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. Treatment recommendation in the early stages without visible or minimal radiographic changes is often difficult, especially when conservative treatment methods have already been exhausted. In these cases, there is the possibility of the minimally invasive methods of denervation, arthroscopic procedures and autologous fat transplantation.

OBJECTIVES

Which minimally invasive procedures are available for the treatment of thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis and how is their value to be assessed?

METHODS

The minimally invasive methods of denervation, arthroscopic procedures and autologous fat transplantation for the treatment of thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis are described and current results from the literature are discussed.

RESULTS

Good results have been reported with all three procedures. However, the reports are almost exclusively based on retrospective studies with small numbers of patients, which lack control groups, so the results cannot be regarded as definitive.

CONCLUSIONS

Denervation, arthroscopic procedures and autologous fat transplantation appear to be suitable methods in the early stages of thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. Further studies, especially comparative randomised trials that report medium and long-term results, would allow further assessment of these methods.