Abstract
The carpometacarpal joint (CMC), with its complex demands of both stability and mobility, is prone to arthritis for a variety of reasons. The CMC joint is formed by the trapezium bone of the wrist and the first metacarpal bone of the thumb. Due to its relative instability, this joint is a common site of pain. CMC osteoarthritis (OA) of the thumb occurs when the cushioning cartilage of the joint surfaces wears away, resulting in damage of the joint. The most commonly reported complaint is pain at the base of the thumb while moving the thumb and eventual persistence of pain at rest as the arthritis progresses. In conjunction with physical exam, PA/lateral x-rays and diagnostic ultrasound imaging are useful to assess the degree of osteoarthritic pathology of the CMC joint. Treatment options include conservative as well as surgical therapies.
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Stitik, J.R., Shah, J.M., Stitik, T.P., Sitapara, K.A. (2017). Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis. In: Kahn, S., Xu, R. (eds) Musculoskeletal Sports and Spine Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50512-1_27
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50512-1_27
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