
29/08/2025
A 44 year old lady with wrist pain for four months and no history of trauma presented with severe base of left thumb pain. Examination and X-rays concluded with a
diagnosis of basal thumb (CMCJ) osteoarthritis.
She underwent trapeziectomy with mini tightrope .
Please do not confuse the diagnosis with De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, a relatively common condition particularly affecting women in their 30s to 50s and often associated with repetitive wrist or thumb activities, pregnancy or breastfeeding and inflammatory arthritis because both conditions present with base of thumb pain.
A thorough history and examination is required to differentiate between both conditions.
The X-ray which demonstrated the presence of osteophytes together with subluxation of the joint also revealed subchondral sclerosis and a reduction in joint space features that are consistent with chronic osteoarthritis.