Carpometacarpal (CMC) Arthroplasty (Thumb Surgery)

Carpometacarpal (CMC) Arthroplasty (Thumb Surgery)

  • Overview
  • Approach
  • Appointments
  • Treatment
  • Locations
  • Doctors

    • What is Carpometacarpal (CMC) Arthroplasty?

    Carpometacarpal (CMC) Arthroplasty is a type of surgery used to rebuild a worn-out joint at the base of your thumb. This is the joint that connects the bone in your wrist to the bone in your thumb. During surgery, a doctor repairs or replaces the damaged parts of the joint so your hand can move smoothly again without pain.

    CMC arthroplasty is used to treat severe thumb arthritis. Over time, the smooth cushion between your bones can wear away. When that cushion is gone, the bones rub directly against each other, causing a lot of pain and stiffness. It makes everyday tasks very hard, like opening a jar, turning a key, or texting on your phone. When medicine, splints, or shots stop working, doctors use arthroplasty to help patients get their hand strength back. 

    Our Approach

    Orthopaedic Surgery at U-M Health offers expertise in the surgical care of hand-related conditions.  We approach each case individually and will develop a care plan to maximize functionality to help you get your hand strength and freedom back.

    Appointment Information

    Call 734-936-5780 to speak with a representative at our Orthopaedic Surgery Call Center to learn more or make an appointment for a consultation.

    What are the types of CMC arthroplasty?

    There are four primary types of CMC arthroplasty used today. Each approach addresses the worn-out joint differently based on the patient's age, activity level and severity of the arthritis.

    Joint Replacement Arthroplasty (Total Joint Arthroplasty)

    Joint Replacement Arthroplasty (Total Joint Arthroplasty)

    Joint replacement arthoplasty traditionally removes the whole bone from your wrist to stop the pain. Orthopaedic Surgery at U-M Health offers expertise in traditional total replacement arthroplasty and is the leader in bringing the latest medical technology to the state.  We were the very first hospital in Michigan to use the advanced TOUCH CMC 1 Prosthesis implant to treat thumb arthritis and one of a few providers in Michigan to offer this implant to qualified patients.  With the TOUCH implant, surgeons do not have to remove the bone from your wrist. Instead, they secure the small implant into place, which keeps your thumb steady right away.

    We recommend patients come to the clinic to discuss their individual needs and whether they are a candidate for the implant.

         Resection Arthroplasty (Trapeziectomy)

    This is the traditional and historically most common type of arthroplasty. Rather than introducing artificial hardware, it eliminates the pain by permanently removing the source of bone-on-bone friction.

         Interposition and Reconstruction Arthroplasty (LRTI)

    This is a highly popular variation of resection arthroplasty. It introduces a natural "cushion" to prevent the thumb from collapsing into the empty space left behind when a bone is removed.

         Suspension Arthroplasty (Suture Button Suspensionplasty)

    This is a newer technique designed to offer the stability of an LRTI but without the need to use a healthy wrist tendon.

    Locations
    • Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic | Brighton Center for Specialty Care 7500 Challis Rd
      Entrance 1, Level 1
      Brighton, MI 48116-9416       Get Directions
    • Orthopaedic Surgery Hand Clinic | Domino's Farms 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr Ste A1200
      Lobby A
      Ann Arbor, MI 48105-9484       Get Directions

    Doctors

     Search for a U-M Health doctor     Miranda Jo Rogers, MD

    Miranda Jo Rogers, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Orthopedic Surgery

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