Thumb arthritis surgery showdown: simple removal vs. reconstruction
NCT ID NCT03858946
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study compared two surgeries for severe thumb arthritis: simple removal of a small wrist bone (trapeziectomy) versus removal plus ligament reconstruction (the Weilby procedure). Sixty patients were randomly assigned to one surgery. The goal was to see which provides better pain relief and hand function. Results will help guide treatment choices.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- surgical procedure
- What this could lead to
- If this trial succeeds, it could help doctors choose the best surgical option for thumb arthritis, potentially improving pain and function with fewer complications.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed trial with only 60 participants. Results may not apply to everyone, and surgery always carries risks like infection or nerve damage.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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60 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2017
- Finished
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Oct 2020
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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40 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Primary carpometacarpal osteoarthritis Unresponsive to conservative treatment Ability to read and/or understand Danish Exclusion Criteria: Rheumatoid arthritis or other types of inflammatory arthritis Previous surgery of the hand TM joint arthritis stage Eaton Litter 1 or 2 TM arthritis due to fracture/dislocation Congenital thumb disorders Other types of surgery in addition to trapeziectomy / Weilby
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Kolding Hospital, Denmark
Kolding, 6000, Denmark
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Division of Hand Surgery, Dept. of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital of Southern Denmark
Sønderborg, 6400, Denmark
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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