Basal osteotomy of the first metacarpal in the treatment of arthritis of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb

This is a preliminary report of 8 cases of osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb treated by a basal abduction osteotomy of the first metacarpal. Follow-up from 6 months to 9 years has shown a relief of pain and an increased function of the hand. Although the osteotomy has been designed to correct the adduction deformity of the first metacarpal, in 2 cases this correction was not achieved and it is possible that a transverse osteotomy might be just as effective.