A Preliminary Study of the Impact of Intensive Hand Therapy after Arthroscopic Partial Trapeziectomy with Suture-Button Suspensionplasty for Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthritis

<b>Background:</b> Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthritis is a painful and debilitating condition, which in severe cases may be treated by surgery. Previous studies have emphasised the importance of rehabilitation following surgery to achieve optimal results. This study aimed to investigate whether intensive hand therapy is effective in improving hand functions after arthroscopic partial trapeziectomy with suture-button (SB) suspensionplasty in patients with thumb CMC arthritis. <b>Methods:</b> This was a retrospective observational study that used non-randomised historical controls. Patients who underwent arthroscopic partial trapeziectomy with SB suspensionplasty were divided into two groups according to whether they had postoperative hand therapy or not (hand therapy group, <i>n</i> = 12; no hand therapy group, <i>n</i> = 11). CMC joint pain, range of motion (ROM), grip and pinch strength in the operative side and Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) score were compared before surgery and at the final follow-up for each group. <b>Results:</b> CMC joint pain, ROM and QuickDASH scores significantly improved following surgery, in both groups. Conversely, postoperative grip and pinch strength only increased significantly in the hand therapy group (grip strength: effect size = 0.36, pinch strength: effect size = 0.44). <b>Conclusions:</b> This study demonstrates that early-stage intensive hand therapy is an effective intervention after arthroscopic partial trapeziectomy with SB suspensionplasty, specifically for improving grip and pinch strength. <b>Level of Evidence:</b> Level III (Therapeutic).