Does proximal migration of the first metacarpal correlate with remaining pain after trapeziectomy?

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flow chart of the patients.

Figure 2. Radiographic measurement of the scaphometacarpal distance.

Table 1. Descriptive data of the patients.

Age at surgery
61 (range 47–80) years
	n=
Gender
Female	77
Male	14
Eaton class
1	3
2	9
3	45
4	29
Operation
Simple trapeziectomy	19
FCR	61
APL	5
ECRL	6

Table 2. Secondary operations.

Operations	Number of patientes
MCP-1 fusion	1
Secondary LRTI	3
Secondary LRTI + first metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP1) fusion^a	1
Secondary LRTI + 1st–2nd metacarpal fusion^a	1
Secondary LRTI + Scaphoid-trapezoid-capitate fusion^a	1
1st–2nd metacarpal fusion	1
Suture-button suspensionplasty 1st–2nd metacarpal	1
Excision sesamoid bone	1
Tenolysis of EPL (after primary MCP1 fusion) + Excision sesamoid bone^a	1
Scaphoid-trapezoid-capitate fusion	2
Debridement due to postoperative infection	1

Legend: ^aThe operations were performed on two separate occasions.

Table 3. Pain and objective physical variables according to degree of migration.

Scaphoid-metacarpal distance	VAS at rest median (IQR)	VAS on load median (ICR)	Radial abduction mean (SD)	Palmar abduction mean (SD)	Three finger pinch mean (SD)	Key pinch mean (SD)	Grip strength mean (SD)
<2 mm (n = 27)	0.5 (0–2)	1 (0–3)	35 (9)	39 (9)	3.3 (1.7)	3.4 (1.6)	15 (8)
≥2 mm (n = 62)	0 (0–1)	1 (0–3)	38 (10)	43 (8)	4.2 (2.0)	4.6 (2.0)	21 (11)
p=	0.96	0.98	0.07	0.01	0.23	0.01	0.003

Legend: Radial and palmar abduction are presented in degrees (°). Pinch grip, key pinch and grip strength are presented in kilograms (kg).

Table 4. Linear correlation between scaphoid the metacarpal distance versus pain scores and objective physical variables.

Variable	Correlation	p-Value
VAS at rest	−0.08	0.44
VAS on load	0.002	0.98
Radial abduction	0.15	0.15
Palmar abduction	0.20	0.06
Three finger pinch	0.20	0.06
Key pinch	0.25	0.02
Grip strength	0.17	0.12