Rush University Medical Center recently announced the first thumb joint replacement surgery performed in the United States.
The procedure was carried out by Dr Jonathan Tueting (Rush Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine – Aurora) using the TOUCH® CMC-1 prosthesis developed by KeriMedical and distributed by Medartis Inc.
The surgery was performed on Trisha Warren, a professional cake decorator who had been suffering from severe pain at the base of her thumb. Following the procedure, she quickly regained function and reported significant pain relief.
Described by Dr Tueting as “like a tiny total hip replacement for the thumb,” the procedure replaces the carpometacarpal joint with a stable ball-and-socket implant designed to restore mobility and strength while relieving pain caused by thumb arthritis.
This first implantation represents an important milestone in the introduction of thumb joint arthroplasty in the United States, bringing a technology already established in Europe to American patients.
