Abductor Pollicis Longus Suspensionplasty for Treatment of Carpometacarpal Arthritis of the Thumb

Arthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint is a common cause of pain, weakness and significant dysfunction in the hand. Surgical options to treat the condition are many, with no one technique showing clear superiority. This article focuses on a technique of trapezial excision and suspensionplasty of the thumb metacarpal using the abductor pollicis longus tendon. A brief history of the procedure is discussed followed by a detailed description of the procedure. The procedure has proven to be a simple and cost-effective option performed through a single incision. We review the advantages and disadvantages along with reported outcomes and complications.