Zapalenie stawu kciuka
Rokowania, prognozy i postęp choroby

Zapalenie stawu kciuka, czyli choroba zwyrodnieniowa stawu nadgarstkowo-śródręcznego (CMC-1 OA), charakteryzuje się znaczną heterogenicznością przebiegu i wyników leczenia, co utrudnia prognozowanie. Badania długoterminowe potwierdzają trwałość efektów leczenia zachowawczego, obejmującego stosowanie ortez i terapię ćwiczeniową, z utrzymaniem poprawy bólu i funkcji ręki przez co najmniej 5 lat. Wskaźnik konwersji do leczenia chirurgicznego wynosi około 22% w perspektywie 5 lat, co wskazuje na skuteczność i zasadność leczenia zachowawczego jako pierwszego wyboru. Iniekcje osocza bogatopłytkowego (PRP) nie wykazały istotnej klinicznie redukcji bólu (mniej niż 2 punkty w skali NRS) ani poprawy funkcji w krótkoterminowej obserwacji, co podważa ich skuteczność w terapii tej choroby.

Prognoza zapalenia stawu kciuka (Zapalenie stawu kciuka – Prognoza)

Zapalenie stawu kciuka, znane również jako choroba zwyrodnieniowa stawu nadgarstkowo-śródręcznego kciuka (CMC-1 OA), jest powszechnym i upośledzającym schorzeniem o nieznanej etiologii, które znacznie częściej występuje u kobiet niż u mężczyzn.1 Przewidywanie przebiegu choroby oraz wyników leczenia stanowi istotny element postępowania terapeutycznego. Efektywność prognozowania jest jednak utrudniona ze względu na znaczną heterogeniczność w raportowaniu wyników i stosowanych miar w literaturze medycznej dotyczącej tej choroby.2

Wyniki leczenia zachowawczego w długoterminowej perspektywie

Badania długoterminowe wskazują na pozytywne wyniki leczenia zachowawczego zapalenia stawu kciuka po 5 latach obserwacji. Co istotne, nie zaobserwowano pogorszenia w zakresie odczuwania bólu ani ograniczeń w wykonywaniu codziennych czynności (ADL) po 12 miesiącach od rozpoczęcia leczenia.3 Wyniki te sugerują, że efekty leczenia zachowawczego są trwałe, a poprawa osiągnięta w pierwszych 12 miesiącach po leczeniu utrzymuje się w dłuższej perspektywie czasowej.45

Badania prowadzone przez zespół Lisa Esteban Lopez z University Medical Center Rotterdam potwierdzają, że początkowe leczenie zachowawcze, obejmujące stosowanie ortez i terapię ćwiczeniową, zapewnia satysfakcjonujące długoterminowe wyniki u pacjentów z chorobą zwyrodnieniową stawu nadgarstkowo-śródręcznego kciuka, przy niskim odsetku konwersji do leczenia operacyjnego.6

Wskaźniki konwersji do leczenia chirurgicznego

Jednym z istotnych parametrów rokowniczych w przypadku zapalenia stawu kciuka jest wskaźnik konwersji z leczenia zachowawczego do leczenia chirurgicznego. Badania wykazały, że jedynie około 22% pacjentów poddawanych początkowo leczeniu zachowawczemu ostatecznie wymaga interwencji chirurgicznej w perspektywie 5-letniej obserwacji.7 Warto podkreślić, że wartość ta jest porównywalna z odsetkami konwersji obserwowanymi w innych badaniach o krótszym okresie obserwacji.8

Różnice w odsetkach konwersji do leczenia chirurgicznego mogą wynikać z różnic w populacjach pacjentów lub stosowanych protokołach leczenia.9 Niemniej jednak, fakt, że wskaźnik konwersji po około 2 latach jest porównywalny ze wskaźnikiem konwersji po 5 latach wskazuje, że niewielu pacjentów poddaje się operacji po osiągnięciu pozytywnego efektu leczenia zachowawczego, co dodatkowo potwierdza zasadność stosowania leczenia zachowawczego jako pierwszego wyboru.10

Skuteczność specyficznych metod leczenia

W kontekście prognozowania wyników leczenia zapalenia stawu kciuka, warto odnotować wyniki badań dotyczących specyficznych metod terapeutycznych. Na przykład, iniekcje osocza bogatopłytkowego (PRP) nie wykazały znaczącego wpływu na zmniejszenie bólu zgłaszanego przez pacjentów, niepełnosprawność ręki czy poprawę siły w krótkoterminowej obserwacji po domięśniowych iniekcjach w przypadku choroby zwyrodnieniowej stawu podstawnego kciuka lub stawu łódeczkowato-czworoboczno-czworobocznego mniejszego (STT).11

Badania wykazały, że średnia indywidualna redukcja bólu mierzona w skali NRS po zastosowaniu PRP nie osiągnęła wartości dwóch punktów, co odpowiadałoby istotnej poprawie klinicznej.12 Wyniki te są sprzeczne z hipotezą, że iniekcje PRP mają wpływ na zmniejszenie bólu, niepełnosprawności lub poprawę siły w przypadku choroby zwyrodnieniowej stawu podstawnego kciuka lub stawu STT.13

Czynniki prognostyczne w zapaleniu stawu kciuka

Identyfikacja czynników prognostycznych stanowi kluczowy element przewidywania przebiegu choroby. Badacze wysuwają hipotezę, że wiotkość stawu CMC różni się w zależności od wieku i płci, a wiotkość stawu może prognozować progresję choroby zwyrodnieniowej u objawowych pacjentów we wczesnym stadium choroby.14 W tym kontekście, wiotkość stawu CMC definiowana jest jako kinematyka stawowa, która jest nieprawidłowa pod względem kierunku i/lub wielkości.

Badania w tym zakresie mogą dostarczyć pierwszej ilościowej oceny zmian biomechanicznych, które zachodzą w stawie CMC podczas wczesnej progresji choroby zwyrodnieniowej w tej populacji. Stanowi to fundament dla przyszłych badań mających na celu ocenę mechanistycznej zależności między zmienioną biomechaniką stawu a degradacją chrząstki.15

Standaryzacja oceny wyników w zapaleniu stawu kciuka

W literaturze dotyczącej choroby zwyrodnieniowej stawu nadgarstkowo-śródręcznego kciuka istnieje znaczna heterogeniczność w raportowaniu wyników i stosowanych miar. Problem ten mógłby zostać rozwiązany poprzez standaryzowany zestaw podstawowych wyników (COS).16

Przeglądy systematyczne wskazują na brak konsensusu dotyczącego krytycznych wyników po operacji choroby zwyrodnieniowej stawu nadgarstkowo-śródręcznego kciuka. Standaryzowany COS stworzony na podstawie konsensusu interesariuszy mógłby poprawić spójność, a tym samym jakość przyszłych badań w tym obszarze.17 Systematyczny przegląd wyników stanowi pierwszy krok w kierunku opracowania podstawowego zestawu wyników dla choroby zwyrodnieniowej stawu CMC kciuka.18

Wnioski dotyczące prognozy w zapaleniu stawu kciuka

Podsumowując, dostępne dowody naukowe wskazują na korzystne długoterminowe wyniki leczenia zachowawczego zapalenia stawu kciuka, z utrzymującymi się efektami terapeutycznymi i niewielkim odsetkiem pacjentów wymagających ostatecznie interwencji chirurgicznej. Standaryzacja oceny wyników jest kluczowa dla poprawy jakości badań i lepszego zrozumienia czynników prognostycznych w tej chorobie. Badania nad biomechanicznymi aspektami stawu CMC mogą dostarczyć cennych informacji na temat mechanizmów progresji choroby i potencjalnych celów interwencji terapeutycznych.1920

Obecne wytyczne zalecają rozpoczynanie leczenia od metod zachowawczych, co znajduje potwierdzenie w nowych dowodach wskazujących na stabilność pozytywnych wyników w długoterminowej obserwacji. Badania wykazały, że po 12 miesiącach od rozpoczęcia leczenia zachowawczego nie obserwuje się pogorszenia w zakresie bólu i ograniczeń w wykonywaniu codziennych czynności.21

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  1. 11.04.2026
  2. www.leksykon.com.pl

Materiały źródłowe

  • #1 Predicting Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis | Brown University Health
    https://www.brownhealth.org/centers-services/orthopedics-institute/research-and-clinical-trials/predicting-thumb
    Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread, disabling disease of undetermined etiology that is far more prevalent in woman than in men. […] We hypothesize CMC joint laxity differs with age and gender, and that joint laxity will predict OA progression in symptomatic, early-stage patients, where CMC joint laxity is defined as articular kinematics that are abnormal in direction and/or magnitude. […] Aim 2 will provide the first quantitative assessment of the biomechanical changes that occur in the CMC joint during early OA progression in this population and will provide the foundation for future studies designed to evaluate the mechanistic relationship between altered joint biomechanics and cartilage degradation.
  • #2 Reporting Outcomes and Outcome Measures in Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review – PubMed
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32819777/
    Purpose: In the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis (OA) literature, there is substantial heterogeneity in outcome and outcome measure reporting. This could be rectified by a standardized core outcome set (COS). This study aimed to identify a comprehensive list of outcomes and outcome measures for thumb CMC joint OA, which represents the first step in developing a COS. […] Conclusions: There is a lack of consensus on critical outcomes after surgery for thumb CMC joint OA. A standardized COS created by stakeholder consensus would improve the consistency and therefore the quality of future research. […] Clinical relevance: This systematic review of outcomes represents the first step in developing a core outcome set for thumb CMC joint OA.
  • #3 Long-Term Outcomes of Nonsurgical Treatment of Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10695337/
    We found positive outcomes at 5 years of follow-up for nonsurgical treatment of CMC-1 OA, with no worsening of pain or of limitations in ADL after 12 months. […] Our findings support nonsurgical treatment as the first treatment choice and suggest that treatment effects are sustainable. […] We found no clinically relevant change in pain and limitations in ADL between 12 months and 5 years following nonsurgical treatment for CMC-1 OA. […] Our findings suggest that the improvement after nonsurgical treatment as measured in the first 12 months after treatment is sustainable. […] The long-term effect of the nonsurgical treatment of CMC-1 OA has not been well described. […] Our finding that only 22% converted to surgery is comparable with rates in other studies with shorter follow-up durations.
  • #4 Long-Term Outcomes of Nonsurgical Treatment of Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10695337/
    We found positive outcomes at 5 years of follow-up for nonsurgical treatment of CMC-1 OA, with no worsening of pain or of limitations in ADL after 12 months. […] Our findings support nonsurgical treatment as the first treatment choice and suggest that treatment effects are sustainable. […] We found no clinically relevant change in pain and limitations in ADL between 12 months and 5 years following nonsurgical treatment for CMC-1 OA. […] Our findings suggest that the improvement after nonsurgical treatment as measured in the first 12 months after treatment is sustainable. […] The long-term effect of the nonsurgical treatment of CMC-1 OA has not been well described. […] Our finding that only 22% converted to surgery is comparable with rates in other studies with shorter follow-up durations.
  • #5 Nonsurgical treatment of thumb arthritis shows lasting benefits  | Wolters Kluwer
    https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/news/nonsurgical-treatment-of-thumb-arthritis-shows-lasting-benefits
    Initial nonsurgical treatment, including the use of orthotics and exercise therapy, provides satisfactory long-term outcomes for patients with osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMC-1 OA) with a low rate of conversion to surgery, reports a study in The Journal of Bone Joint Surgery. […] „Our findings support nonsurgical treatment as the first treatment choice and suggest that treatment effects are sustainable” in patients with CMC-1 OA, according to the new research by Lisa Esteban Lopez, LMJ, MSc, PT, of University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. […] The findings support current recommendations for initial nonsurgical treatment for OA of the thumb, while providing new evidence that positive outcomes remain stable at long-term follow-up. Adding to previous evidence of short-term benefits, the new study shows „no worsening of pain or limitations in ADL after 12 months” in patients undergoing nonsurgical treatment.
  • #6 Nonsurgical treatment of thumb arthritis shows lasting benefits  | Wolters Kluwer
    https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/news/nonsurgical-treatment-of-thumb-arthritis-shows-lasting-benefits
    Initial nonsurgical treatment, including the use of orthotics and exercise therapy, provides satisfactory long-term outcomes for patients with osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMC-1 OA) with a low rate of conversion to surgery, reports a study in The Journal of Bone Joint Surgery. […] „Our findings support nonsurgical treatment as the first treatment choice and suggest that treatment effects are sustainable” in patients with CMC-1 OA, according to the new research by Lisa Esteban Lopez, LMJ, MSc, PT, of University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. […] The findings support current recommendations for initial nonsurgical treatment for OA of the thumb, while providing new evidence that positive outcomes remain stable at long-term follow-up. Adding to previous evidence of short-term benefits, the new study shows „no worsening of pain or limitations in ADL after 12 months” in patients undergoing nonsurgical treatment.
  • #7 Long-Term Outcomes of Nonsurgical Treatment of Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10695337/
    We found positive outcomes at 5 years of follow-up for nonsurgical treatment of CMC-1 OA, with no worsening of pain or of limitations in ADL after 12 months. […] Our findings support nonsurgical treatment as the first treatment choice and suggest that treatment effects are sustainable. […] We found no clinically relevant change in pain and limitations in ADL between 12 months and 5 years following nonsurgical treatment for CMC-1 OA. […] Our findings suggest that the improvement after nonsurgical treatment as measured in the first 12 months after treatment is sustainable. […] The long-term effect of the nonsurgical treatment of CMC-1 OA has not been well described. […] Our finding that only 22% converted to surgery is comparable with rates in other studies with shorter follow-up durations.
  • #8 Long-Term Outcomes of Nonsurgical Treatment of Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10695337/
    We found positive outcomes at 5 years of follow-up for nonsurgical treatment of CMC-1 OA, with no worsening of pain or of limitations in ADL after 12 months. […] Our findings support nonsurgical treatment as the first treatment choice and suggest that treatment effects are sustainable. […] We found no clinically relevant change in pain and limitations in ADL between 12 months and 5 years following nonsurgical treatment for CMC-1 OA. […] Our findings suggest that the improvement after nonsurgical treatment as measured in the first 12 months after treatment is sustainable. […] The long-term effect of the nonsurgical treatment of CMC-1 OA has not been well described. […] Our finding that only 22% converted to surgery is comparable with rates in other studies with shorter follow-up durations.
  • #9 Long-Term Outcomes of Nonsurgical Treatment of Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10695337/
    These differences in conversion rates may be due to differences in populations or treatment protocols. […] Nevertheless, the findings that the conversion rate at approximately 2 years is comparable with the conversion rate at 5 years indicates that few patients undergo surgery once the positive treatment effect has been achieved, which further supports nonsurgical treatment as a first treatment choice.
  • #10 Long-Term Outcomes of Nonsurgical Treatment of Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10695337/
    These differences in conversion rates may be due to differences in populations or treatment protocols. […] Nevertheless, the findings that the conversion rate at approximately 2 years is comparable with the conversion rate at 5 years indicates that few patients undergo surgery once the positive treatment effect has been achieved, which further supports nonsurgical treatment as a first treatment choice.
  • #11 Effects of intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections on osteoarthritis in the thumb basal joint and scaphoidtrapeziotrapezoidal joint | PLOS One
    https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0264203
    We could not find a significant effect on patient-reported pain, hand disability or strength in the short-term after intra-articular PRP injections for osteoarthritis in the thumb basal joint or STT-joint. […] The short-term effect of PRP for osteoarthritis in the thumb base and STT-joint is doubtful and needs to be properly investigated in placebo-controlled studies. […] However, even when possible confounders were not taken into account, the mean individual reduction in pain NRS did not amount to two points, corresponding to a substantial improvement. […] One can question why our study showed no effect of PRP for thumb basal and STT-joint osteoarthritis when placebo-controlled studies have shown that PRP has effect for knee osteoarthritis. […] The result of this study contradicts the hypothesis that PRP injections have an effect in terms of pain relief, disability, or strength for osteoarthritis in the thumb basal joint or STT-joint.
  • #12 Effects of intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections on osteoarthritis in the thumb basal joint and scaphoidtrapeziotrapezoidal joint | PLOS One
    https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0264203
    We could not find a significant effect on patient-reported pain, hand disability or strength in the short-term after intra-articular PRP injections for osteoarthritis in the thumb basal joint or STT-joint. […] The short-term effect of PRP for osteoarthritis in the thumb base and STT-joint is doubtful and needs to be properly investigated in placebo-controlled studies. […] However, even when possible confounders were not taken into account, the mean individual reduction in pain NRS did not amount to two points, corresponding to a substantial improvement. […] One can question why our study showed no effect of PRP for thumb basal and STT-joint osteoarthritis when placebo-controlled studies have shown that PRP has effect for knee osteoarthritis. […] The result of this study contradicts the hypothesis that PRP injections have an effect in terms of pain relief, disability, or strength for osteoarthritis in the thumb basal joint or STT-joint.
  • #13 Effects of intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections on osteoarthritis in the thumb basal joint and scaphoidtrapeziotrapezoidal joint | PLOS One
    https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0264203
    We could not find a significant effect on patient-reported pain, hand disability or strength in the short-term after intra-articular PRP injections for osteoarthritis in the thumb basal joint or STT-joint. […] The short-term effect of PRP for osteoarthritis in the thumb base and STT-joint is doubtful and needs to be properly investigated in placebo-controlled studies. […] However, even when possible confounders were not taken into account, the mean individual reduction in pain NRS did not amount to two points, corresponding to a substantial improvement. […] One can question why our study showed no effect of PRP for thumb basal and STT-joint osteoarthritis when placebo-controlled studies have shown that PRP has effect for knee osteoarthritis. […] The result of this study contradicts the hypothesis that PRP injections have an effect in terms of pain relief, disability, or strength for osteoarthritis in the thumb basal joint or STT-joint.
  • #14 Predicting Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis | Brown University Health
    https://www.brownhealth.org/centers-services/orthopedics-institute/research-and-clinical-trials/predicting-thumb
    Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread, disabling disease of undetermined etiology that is far more prevalent in woman than in men. […] We hypothesize CMC joint laxity differs with age and gender, and that joint laxity will predict OA progression in symptomatic, early-stage patients, where CMC joint laxity is defined as articular kinematics that are abnormal in direction and/or magnitude. […] Aim 2 will provide the first quantitative assessment of the biomechanical changes that occur in the CMC joint during early OA progression in this population and will provide the foundation for future studies designed to evaluate the mechanistic relationship between altered joint biomechanics and cartilage degradation.
  • #15 Predicting Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis | Brown University Health
    https://www.brownhealth.org/centers-services/orthopedics-institute/research-and-clinical-trials/predicting-thumb
    Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread, disabling disease of undetermined etiology that is far more prevalent in woman than in men. […] We hypothesize CMC joint laxity differs with age and gender, and that joint laxity will predict OA progression in symptomatic, early-stage patients, where CMC joint laxity is defined as articular kinematics that are abnormal in direction and/or magnitude. […] Aim 2 will provide the first quantitative assessment of the biomechanical changes that occur in the CMC joint during early OA progression in this population and will provide the foundation for future studies designed to evaluate the mechanistic relationship between altered joint biomechanics and cartilage degradation.
  • #16 Reporting Outcomes and Outcome Measures in Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review – PubMed
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32819777/
    Purpose: In the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis (OA) literature, there is substantial heterogeneity in outcome and outcome measure reporting. This could be rectified by a standardized core outcome set (COS). This study aimed to identify a comprehensive list of outcomes and outcome measures for thumb CMC joint OA, which represents the first step in developing a COS. […] Conclusions: There is a lack of consensus on critical outcomes after surgery for thumb CMC joint OA. A standardized COS created by stakeholder consensus would improve the consistency and therefore the quality of future research. […] Clinical relevance: This systematic review of outcomes represents the first step in developing a core outcome set for thumb CMC joint OA.
  • #17 Reporting Outcomes and Outcome Measures in Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review – PubMed
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32819777/
    Purpose: In the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis (OA) literature, there is substantial heterogeneity in outcome and outcome measure reporting. This could be rectified by a standardized core outcome set (COS). This study aimed to identify a comprehensive list of outcomes and outcome measures for thumb CMC joint OA, which represents the first step in developing a COS. […] Conclusions: There is a lack of consensus on critical outcomes after surgery for thumb CMC joint OA. A standardized COS created by stakeholder consensus would improve the consistency and therefore the quality of future research. […] Clinical relevance: This systematic review of outcomes represents the first step in developing a core outcome set for thumb CMC joint OA.
  • #18 Reporting Outcomes and Outcome Measures in Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review – PubMed
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32819777/
    Purpose: In the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis (OA) literature, there is substantial heterogeneity in outcome and outcome measure reporting. This could be rectified by a standardized core outcome set (COS). This study aimed to identify a comprehensive list of outcomes and outcome measures for thumb CMC joint OA, which represents the first step in developing a COS. […] Conclusions: There is a lack of consensus on critical outcomes after surgery for thumb CMC joint OA. A standardized COS created by stakeholder consensus would improve the consistency and therefore the quality of future research. […] Clinical relevance: This systematic review of outcomes represents the first step in developing a core outcome set for thumb CMC joint OA.
  • #19 Nonsurgical treatment of thumb arthritis shows lasting benefits  | Wolters Kluwer
    https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/news/nonsurgical-treatment-of-thumb-arthritis-shows-lasting-benefits
    Initial nonsurgical treatment, including the use of orthotics and exercise therapy, provides satisfactory long-term outcomes for patients with osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMC-1 OA) with a low rate of conversion to surgery, reports a study in The Journal of Bone Joint Surgery. […] „Our findings support nonsurgical treatment as the first treatment choice and suggest that treatment effects are sustainable” in patients with CMC-1 OA, according to the new research by Lisa Esteban Lopez, LMJ, MSc, PT, of University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. […] The findings support current recommendations for initial nonsurgical treatment for OA of the thumb, while providing new evidence that positive outcomes remain stable at long-term follow-up. Adding to previous evidence of short-term benefits, the new study shows „no worsening of pain or limitations in ADL after 12 months” in patients undergoing nonsurgical treatment.
  • #20 Long-Term Outcomes of Nonsurgical Treatment of Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10695337/
    We found positive outcomes at 5 years of follow-up for nonsurgical treatment of CMC-1 OA, with no worsening of pain or of limitations in ADL after 12 months. […] Our findings support nonsurgical treatment as the first treatment choice and suggest that treatment effects are sustainable. […] We found no clinically relevant change in pain and limitations in ADL between 12 months and 5 years following nonsurgical treatment for CMC-1 OA. […] Our findings suggest that the improvement after nonsurgical treatment as measured in the first 12 months after treatment is sustainable. […] The long-term effect of the nonsurgical treatment of CMC-1 OA has not been well described. […] Our finding that only 22% converted to surgery is comparable with rates in other studies with shorter follow-up durations.
  • #21 Nonsurgical treatment of thumb arthritis shows lasting benefits  | Wolters Kluwer
    https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/news/nonsurgical-treatment-of-thumb-arthritis-shows-lasting-benefits
    Initial nonsurgical treatment, including the use of orthotics and exercise therapy, provides satisfactory long-term outcomes for patients with osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMC-1 OA) with a low rate of conversion to surgery, reports a study in The Journal of Bone Joint Surgery. […] „Our findings support nonsurgical treatment as the first treatment choice and suggest that treatment effects are sustainable” in patients with CMC-1 OA, according to the new research by Lisa Esteban Lopez, LMJ, MSc, PT, of University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. […] The findings support current recommendations for initial nonsurgical treatment for OA of the thumb, while providing new evidence that positive outcomes remain stable at long-term follow-up. Adding to previous evidence of short-term benefits, the new study shows „no worsening of pain or limitations in ADL after 12 months” in patients undergoing nonsurgical treatment.