We reviewed 63 trapeziometacarpal arthrodeses (57 patients performed in our unit between April 2007 and May 2013 for osteoarthritis. K-wires, plates, headless compression screws and memory staples were used for fixation. The average age of patients was 50 (range 20-78) years and there were 36 men and 21 women with a mean follow-up of 36 (range 6-62) months. K-wires were used in 31 cases, staples in 12, plates in five, and screws in 15 joints. The overall non-union rate was 11, however, when using K-wires for fixation, it was 20. Union was achieved in all cases when staples or screws were used for fixation. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores were higher in cases where non-union occurred compared with those that united (66.7 vs. 21.9). Trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis for osteoarthritis gives good clinical outcome with lower (DASH) scores when union occurs. K-wire fixation led to a 20 non-union rate, and as a result, the senior author no longer uses this method of fixation.
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