Does the Number of Preoperative Corticosteroid Injections Affect Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of Trapeziectomy and Suspensionplasty?

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether an increasing number of preoperative corticosteroid injections is associated with greater radiographic subsidence of the thumb metacarpal at long-term follow-up after abductor pollicis longus suspensionplasty, secondary to steroid-induced pathologic weakening of capsuloligamentous restraints surrounding the thumb carpometacarpophalangeal joint and greater extension of the lunate, but neither affect patient-reported outcomes nor revision rates.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients who underwent primary trapeziectomy and abductor pollicis longus suspensionplasty by a single surgeon over a 10-year period. The number of preoperative corticosteroid injections in the trapeziometacarpal joint was documented, and patients were separated into 4 subgroups: 0, 1, 2, or 3 or more injections. Preoperative and final radiographs were evaluated for a change in the distance between the base of the thumb metacarpal and the distal pole of the scaphoid as a measure of thumb metacarpal subsidence and radiolunate angle as a measure of nondissociative carpal instability, which has been reported as a complication after basal joint arthroplasty. Additionally, the final patient-reported outcomes (Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation) and revision rates were also assessed.

Results: Of a total of 60 patients with an average age of 64 years that were included in the study, 16 (26.7%) received 0, 19 (31.7%) received 1, 12 (20%) received 2, and 13 (21.7%) received 3+ preoperative injections. The median postoperative follow-up was 92 months. The mean distance between the base of the thumb metacarpal and the distal pole of the scaphoid decreased by 2 mm, and the mean radiolunate angle increased by 4° across the entire cohort. When comparing subgroups, no differences were observed in either parameter or the final Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates no apparent detrimental effect of an increased number of preoperative corticosteroid injections on radiographic thumb metacarpal subsidence, increase in extension of radiolunate angle (nondissociative carpal instability), patient-reported outcomes, or revision rates at an average of almost 8 years after trapeziectomy and abductor pollicis longus suspensionplasty.

Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic IV.

Keywords: Basal joint; cortisone; outcomes; subsidence; trapeziectomy.