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OrthoVellum

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Not affiliated with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Hand & Upper Limb
intermediate
X-Type

Thumb CMC Arthritis

Thumb Disorders

A 58-year-old right-hand-dominant woman presents with 2 years of progressive pain at the base of her dominant thumb. Pain is worse with pinching and gripping activities such as opening jars. Examination reveals tenderness at the thumb carpometacarpal joint, positive grind test, and a dorsoradial prominence at the thumb base. She has a mild adduction contracture and compensatory metacarpophalangeal hyperextension. Radiographs show joint space narrowing, osteophytes, and subluxation of the first metacarpal on the trapezium. Regarding thumb CMC arthritis:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

Thumb CMC (carpometacarpal) arthritis is the second most common site of hand osteoarthritis after th...

B

The Eaton-Littler classification stages CMC arthritis: Stage I shows joint space widening (synovitis...

C

Thumb CMC arthritis is more common in males; the grind test is performed by axially loading and rota...

D

Conservative treatment includes splinting (thumb spica), NSAIDs, activity modification, and corticos...

E

Surgical options include trapeziectomy alone (simple excision), LRTI (ligament reconstruction and te...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option