Trapeziectomy and Suspensionplasty Using an Acellular Dermal Matrix Allograft

Trapeziectomy and suspensionplasty with or without interposition is the most commonly performed surgery in the United States for symptomatic thumb carpometacarpal joint arthritis that has failed conservative treatment. The anterior oblique ligament is traditionally reconstructed using tendon autograft to stabilize the first ray after trapeziectomy, but concerns regarding donor site morbidity have led to the use of commercially available products. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) allograft has been successfully and safely used in several orthopaedic procedures including anterior oblique ligament reconstruction and interposition following trapeziectomy. The use of ADM negates the need to harvest tendon autograft and therefore reduces both morbidity and operative time while also providing the ability to perform a consistent procedure in both primary and revision cases. In this article, we describe our preferred surgical technique of trapeziectomy and suspensionplasty using an ADM allograft.