LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF THE CEMENTED CAFFINIkRE PROSTHESIS FOR TRAPEZIO-METACARPAL ARTHROPLASTY

Since the introduction of the de la Caffinibre cemented prosthesis for arthroplasty of the trapezio-metacarpal joint, short-term and intermediate results have been reported by Caffiniere himself (1973), Caffiniere and Aucouturier (1979) Wyss and Segmuller (1980), August et al. (1984) and Boeckstyns et al. (1989). Caffiniere has published the only long-term follow-up, of 22 operations with encouraging results after ten years (Caffiniere and Rothe, 1985). We report a long-term clinical and radiographic evaluation. Full opposition 19122 Can flatten hand 18/22 kPa = kilopascals (1 pascal = 1 newton/m&e2 = 1 kilogramme/metre second. Materials and methods 20 patients with 22 Caffiniere prostheses in the trapezia-metacarpal joint were evaluated at a median of nine years after operation. The indication was degenerative osteoarthrosis in 20 cases and rheumatoid arthritis in two cases. We formd 18 of the 22 (82%) original prostheses still in place, with satisfactory pain relief and good function. Three hands had been revised due to aseptic loosening, with replacement of two cups and one total prosthesis. Two of the revised prostheses were functioning well 63 and 10 years after the revision. We conclude that function does not deteriorate within the first nine years, that late loosening is not a significant problem with this prosthesis and that, if aseptic loosening occurs, it is possible to obtain good results by replacing the loose component