Thumb Joint Replacement

Thumb arthritis and joint damage can make everyday tasks, like opening a jar, holding a steering wheel, buttoning a shirt, or holding a coffee cup, painful because the thumb plays a major role in hand function. 

At Brown University Health Orthopedics Institute, our hand and upper extremity specialists provide comprehensive care for thumb arthritis and other complex hand conditions. We offer advanced diagnostic evaluations, nonsurgical treatments, rehabilitation services, and surgical options, including thumb joint replacement surgery. Our goal is to relieve pain, restore function, and help you return to the activities that matter most.

What Is Thumb Joint Replacement?

Thumb joint replacement is a surgical procedure that treats advanced arthritis of the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint, which is located at the base of the thumb. When arthritis wears away the joint's protective cartilage, patients may experience pain, stiffness, weakness, and difficulty with gripping or pinching.

If medications, splinting, injections, or hand therapy no longer provide relief, surgery may be recommended. Thumb joint replacement replaces damaged joint surfaces with an implant designed to reduce pain while preserving movement and thumb function.

Surgical Options for Advanced Thumb Arthritis

The orthopedic hand specialists at Brown University Health offer several surgical approaches for treating thumb arthritis. Your surgeon will recommend a procedure based on your symptoms, lifestyle, overall health, and the condition of your joint.

TOUCH CMC 1 Thumb Joint Replacement

Brown University Health offers the TOUCH CMC 1 implant, an innovative option for selected patients with thumb arthritis. This procedure replaces the damaged joint with a dual-mobility implant designed to support stability while maintaining natural thumb motion. The surgeon removes only the damaged joint surfaces and places the implant between the thumb metacarpal and trapezium.

This approach preserves more of the patient's natural anatomy than traditional reconstructive procedures. For many patients, thumb joint replacement may provide an opportunity to regain strength, mobility, and hand function without the tissue reconstruction required in other procedures. Joseph A. Gil, MD, a board-certified, fellowship-trained hand and upper extremity surgeon, was the first surgeon in Rhode Island to perform thumb joint replacement using the TOUCH CMC 1 implant.

As the implant surgery is being introduced in the U.S., Dr Gil has designed a research registry that will track outcomes associated with this surgery. Dr Gil encourages referral for all hand and upper extremity problems: “At the Brown Health Orthopedics institute, we aim to offer the highest quality orthopedic care to all of our patients.”

The Benefits of Thumb Joint Replacement at the Orthopedics Institute

The Orthopedics Institute is a regional destination for orthopedic care, sports medicine, and rehabilitation. Our multidisciplinary team includes fellowship-trained hand surgeons, orthopedic specialists, rehabilitation experts, and certified hand therapists who work together to create individualized treatment plans.

Patients benefit from:

• Expert medical specialists in hand, wrist, and upper extremity conditions.
• Advanced surgical techniques and technology.
• Comprehensive rehabilitation and hand therapy services.
• Access to the latest evidence-based treatment options.

Our physicians also serve as faculty members of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, helping bring current research and innovation into patient care.

Learn more about hand and wrist injuries and pain at the Orthopedics Institute at Brown University Health