Trapeziometacarpal (TM) osteoarthritis is one of the most common osteoarthritis. It causes pain, loss of mobility and strength and affects function in patients’ daily lives. Splint is one of the conservative treatments proposed to patient.

The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of this conservative treatment on pain, function and quality of life in the long-term.

One hundred and ninety-three questionnaires were sent to patients who received a CMC splint for their TM osteoarthritis. The CMC splint immobilizes only the TM joint and leaves free the interphalangeal joint of the thumb and the wrist. First, we computed how many patients had finally undergone surgical treatment. On the non-operated patients, we analyzed the pain (VAS), the function (Quick-DASH score) and the quality of life (SF-12). We compared the results to literature and norms.

Finally, 186 people could be included in the study, 115 answered and 28 were operated on (24%). After 4 years (3.8±1.7 yrs) of conservative treatment, The VAS and Quick-DASH scores were significantly worse comparatively to a cohort of healthy patients, and trapeziectomy and arthrodesis patients. The SF-12 scores were reduced from 20% compared to the norm.

Few patients had surgery after splinting as a conservative treatment. However, these non-operated patients do not provide good results.