Treatment of Thumb Metacarpophalangeal Joint Hyperextension by Volar Plate Advancement and Capsulodesis With Suture Tape Augmentation

Basal joint arthritis is commonly associated with attenuation of the volar structures at the thumb metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint, leading to an initially dynamic, and eventually passive hyperextension deformity. In surgical treatment of basilar thumb disease, intervention at the MCP joint should also be considered to correct deformity and prevent persistent dysfunction. We present a novel technique using suture tape augmentation of the thumb MCP joint volar plate advancement and capsulodesis, with the goal of preventing recurrent instability as a result of tissue attenuation and enabling early functional recovery. We also report a representative case of a 66-year-old woman with symptomatic thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis and 50 degrees of MCP passive hyperextension. She underwent trapeziectomy and MCP joint volar plate advancement and capsulodesis with suture tape augmentation. Postoperatively, the patient underwent early mobilization of the affected thumb and at final follow-up of 2 years postsurgery had a painless thumb with full opposition and without hyperextension at the MCP joint during pinch maneuvers.