The Niebauer-Cutter prosthesis in excision arthroplasty of the trapezium.

Sixteen patients had excision arthroplasty of the trapezium, using the Niebauer-Cutter prosthesis. The average period of postoperative follow-up was thirteen months. All patients had severe preoperative disabilities and the majority were relieved from resting pain and pain during active use of their hands. The postoperative range of motion with regard to the palmar and radial abduction was found to be satisfactory, while varying degrees of limitation of circumduction was the rule. There was no correlation between the patients' own judgment of the postoperative benefits and the objectively measured range of motion. One patient had a luxation of the prosthesis, while another had a subluxation when opposing the thumb. This frequency of luxation/subluxation seems to be less than that experienced with the other common type of prosthesis, the Swanson prosthesis. Although it is obvious that the ideal prosthesis for treatment of disabilities in the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is still not available, it was concluded that the Niebauer-Cutter prosthesis is the best choice at the present.