Modification of Burton and Pellegrini trapeziectomy technique: Medium-term comparative analysis

Ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI) arthroplasty is the procedure of choice of most hand surgeons in the treatment of basal joint arthritis of the thumb. Progressive and natural collapse after trapeziectomy is a common problem. We performed LRTI with flexor carpi radialis (FCR) hemitendon technique, then proceeded to block the hemitendon plasty with a bone fragment at the base of the metacarpal. This technique allows us to maintain tension and to obtain immediate stability. We conducted a single-center retrospective longitudinal observational study including 51 patients with diagnosis of symptomatic osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint. Group A consisted of 24 thumbs treated with trapeziectomy with LRTI with FCR hemitendon using the Burton-Pellegrini technique. Group B included 27 thumbs treated using the modified technique. The postoperative height of the Scaphometacarpal (SM) space was analyzed. Clinical outcome, opposition, retroversion, patient satisfaction and surgical timing were studied. The difference of the SM space, after applying correction factor, at one and six months postoperative is significantly less in the modified technique group (p=0.033 and p=0.001 respectively). The average height loss of the SM space from one to six months postoperative measurement was smaller in the study group, showing greater stability of the plasty. The use of a bone fragment to block the FCR plasty improves the results at one and six months postoperatively, showing a diminished height loss of the SM space, improved thumb opposition and without prolonging surgical timing in our series. La artroplastia con reconstrucción ligamentosa e interposición tendinosa (LRTI, en inglés) es el procedimiento de elección para tratar la rizartrosis. El colapso progresivo tras la trapeciectomía es un problema habitual. Realizamos una LRTI con el hemitendón del flexor carpis radialis (FCR) y, posteriormente, colocamos un fragmento óseo en la base del metacarpo para bloquear la plastia. Esta técnica nos permite obtener estabilidad inmediata y mantener la tensión. Presentamos un estudio observacional longitudinal retrospectivo unicéntrico, que incluye a 51 pacientes con diagnóstico de rizartrosis sintomática. Los pacientes se dividieron en 2 grupos: grupo A, pacientes intervenidos mediante trapeciectomía con LRTI del FCR según la técnica de Burton-Pellegrini y grupo B, pacientes intervenidos mediante la técnica modificada. Se analizó la altura del espaci