Trapezium implant arthroplasty. Long-term evaluation of 150 cases.

Arthritis of the joints at the base of the thumb can be painful and severely disabling, interfering with normal functional activity. The trapezium implant, which acts as a replacement for the removed pathologic bone, must have certain features if it is to be tolerated by the host tissue and be stable and durable. Implant resection arthroplasty of the trapezium, with careful correction of other associated deformities, has resulted in long-term, excellent functional and cosmetic results in this group of cases.