Time to return to work after total trapeziometacarpal prosthesis

Abstract

Objectives: This study assessed return to work and prosthesis survival after trapeziometacarpal prosthesis surgery.

Material and methods: A multicenter retrospective study was carried out on patients operated on between 2002 and 2020. All working patients who had undergone trapeziometacarpal prosthesis surgery were included. Return to work was defined as resuming the same full-time position. Postoperative events and their specific treatment and failure to return to work were reported.

Results: 240 prostheses in 211 patients were included. The complications rate was 7.5%, with 97% prosthesis survival. 94.3% of patients returned to work, at a mean 48 days (range, 29-210 days; SD, 22.7 days), with no significant difference according to age. Twelve patients did not return to work, half of whom because of prosthetic complications.

Conclusion: Trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty enables most patients to return to work within 6 weeks. In this series, the prosthetic survival rate was 97%.

Keywords: Arthroplastie; Arthroplasty; Arthrose; Articulation trapézo-métacarpienne; Osteoarthritis; Pouce; Prosthesis; Prothèse; Reprise de l'activité professionnelle; Return to work; Thumb; Trapeziometacarpal joint.