Elektra trapeziometacarpal prosthesis for treatment of osteoarthrosis of the basal joint of the thumb

The first reports about treating osteoarthrosis of the trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint with the Elektra prosthesis were encouraging. Based on those, we operated on 17 hands in 16 patients with Eaton stage 3+4 osteoarthritis of the TMC joint using the Elektra hydroxyapatite-coated uncemented TMC prosthesis. There were 15 women and one man, mean age 54 years (range 40-70). At follow-up after 35 months (range 22-52), four patients had been reoperated on because of aseptic loosening of the screw cup with migration and progressive pain. Two other patients have been revised because the implant had to be removed for other reasons. At radiological follow-up in the 11 other patients, one cup had migrated and was clearly loose, leaving 10 implants with no sign of failure. Part of this mediocre result may be explained by the learning curve, but more studies are needed to confirm the excellent results obtained elsewhere with the Elektra prosthesis, and we advise others to monitor their results carefully when using this implant. Studies comparing joint replacement with resection arthroplasty are also needed.