Osteoarthritis in the basal joint of the Thumb

Read some quick facts about Osteoarthritis in the basal joint of the thumb and its possible causes, symptoms and treatment.

WHAT IS OSTEOARTHRITIS?

Osteoarthritis is when the cartilage is loosening/degenerating and its quality gets gradually worse and finally it disappears partly or completely. The defective cartilage causes an uneven load that makes the joint unstable. The basal joint of the thumb is particularly exposed to osteoarthritis especially among women over 40.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE CAUSES?

Heredity
Previous injury
Long term misaligned loading

SYMPTOMS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

Local pain in and around the joint
Pain in loading and motion may increase over the years, intense pain may appear
Resting pain
The basal joint may be swollen, warm and sore from contact and pressure
Decreasing in grip strength

TREATMENT

A splint or an elastic thumb brace
A night splint to counteract malposition
Ergonomic advice
Technical devices
Physiotherapy with daily training of active range of motion (ROM), strength and coordination
Injection of cortisone may sometimes relieve the pain