Outcomes of secondary trapeziectomy after revision of trapeziometacarpal implants: a retrospective comparative matched study

We evaluated secondary trapeziectomy for revision of trapeziometacarpal implants and compared this to primary trapeziectomy with a matched retrospective single centre study performed between October 2003 and February 2015. Thirty-one patients with trapeziometacarpal prosthesis failure who had a secondary trapeziectomy were matched with a primary trapeziectomy regarding sex, date of the operation and age. We evaluated function, mobility, autonomy, pain, strength, complications and shortening of the thumb on radiographs. The median time until removal of the implant was 37 months. The median age in both groups was similar. Median follow-up was more than 7 years in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of function, mobility, autonomy, pain, strength, complications and shortening of the thumb. Secondary trapeziectomy after revision of trapeziometacarpal implants provides results comparable with primary trapeziectomy.