2026 SICOT Annual Meeting: Defining the new gold standard: A comparative analysis of total joint arthroplasty and ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition for basal joint arthritis of the thumb

84 patients aged 40–70 years with Eaton-Littler stage II–III basal thumb arthritis were randomized to receive total joint arthroplasty (TJA) or ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition (LRTI). The primary outcome of interest was not explicitly specified. Outcomes included Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, key pinch strength, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, overall grip strength, patient satisfaction, and radiographic stability. Outcomes were assessed preoperatively and at 12 months postoperatively. Overall, the results revealed that TJA demonstrated superior functional outcomes, greater key pinch strength, reduced pain, improved radiographic stability, and higher patient satisfaction compared with LRTI. These findings suggest that TJA may offer greater functional benefits than LRTI for selected patients with moderate-to-advanced basal thumb arthritis.