Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of Roentgen Stereophotogrammetric Analysis (RSA) in total joint arthroplasty of the trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint of the thumb.
Methods: In five cadaveric hands the TMC-joint was replaced by the Surface Replacement Trapeziometacarpal prosthesis (SR™ TMC prosthesis; Avanta, San Diego, CA) and tantalum beads of 0.8 mm were implanted for RSA. RSA radiographs in two directions were made in ten positions to calculate the measurement error. Migration values from zero are indicative for the measurement error. The number of detected markers was recorded.
Results: The accuracy analysis showed that for the translations the mean measurement error varied between 0.003 mm (SD 0.057) and 0.055 mm (SD 0.133). For the rotations values ranged from 0.034° (SD 1.759) to 0.502° (SD 1.617).
Conclusions: RSA analysis of the SR™ TMC prosthesis is feasible. The measurement error is good for the translations but high for the rotations. The latter is due to the close position of the markers relative to each other. Level of evidence III.