IFSSH Conference in Washington DC! Surgeon SYM36: CMC Arthroplasty

A "State of the Art" overview of current trends in thumb CMC arthroplasty incorporating detailed surgical technique tips & tricks for the hand surgeon. Both primary and revision case factors will be addressed. Soft tissue, suture suspension, implant based along with total versus hemi-resection procedures will be summarized. A short primer on current biomechanics and anatomical ligament factors will be correlated to thumb function.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this program, the attendee will:

• Distinguish biomechanical and ligament factors that influence Thumb CMC arthritis progression.

• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of differing techniques relative to functional outcome.

• Evaluate methods to improve revision arthroplasty cases.

In addition to discussing our US experience, surgeons from the UK and Belgium shared their experience with implant arthroplasty for the basal joint of the thumb.

Happy to see one of my mentors from Massachusetts General Hospital, Jesse Jupiter, now retired but still coming to meetings to see all his protégés…including me!

Happy to see 2 of my hosts from my Japanese travelling fellowship 25 years ago, Drs. Shibata and Toh, at the IFSSH conference in Washington DC!