Reoperation Rate Following Thumb Basal Joint Arthroplasty: A Minimum Follow-Up Period of 5 Years

Purpose: Thumb basal joint arthroplasty (BJA) performed for thumb basal joint arthritis is associated with high patient satisfaction. However, complications requiring reoperation occur, with a previously reported early reoperation rate (within 2 years) of 1.5%. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of and reasons for reoperation in the intermediate term, defined as within 5 years of the index surgery.

Methods: All cases of primary thumb BJA performed from 2014 to 2016 at a single private academic center were reviewed. For cases requiring reoperation, data regarding index surgical technique, reason for reoperation, time to reoperation, and reoperation technique were collected. Risk of reoperation (return to the operating room for any reason) and risk of revision arthroplasty (revision surgery for symptomatic subsidence or instability) within 5 years of the index surgery were calculated.

Results: A total of 686 primary thumb BJAs were performed in 637 patients. Risk of reoperation for any reason was 2.0% (14/686), and risk of revision arthroplasty for symptomatic subsidence or instability was 0.6% (4/686) within 5 years of surgery. The mean time between the index surgery and reoperation was 10.3 months (range, 16 days to 4.6 years) for all cases; however, for revision arthroplasty, the mean time was 9.6 months (range, 3.9-14.3 months).

Conclusions: The intermediate term (5 years minimum) rate of reoperation following thumb BJA for any reason was 2%, with only approximately one-fourth of reoperation cases requiring revision arthroplasty for symptomatic subsidence or instability. These data may provide useful information in the counseling of patients considering thumb BJA surgery.

Type of study/level of evidence: Prognostic IV.