There are artificial joints available for the basal joint. These silastic or metal implants are used by some hand surgeons to replace the joint. The implant acts as a spacer to fill the gap created when the arthritic surfaces of the basal joint are removed.

To perform an artificial joint replacement of the basal joint, the surgeon first makes an incision in the back of the thumb over the joint. The joint is then opened so that the surgeon can see the joint surfaces. The cartilage is removed from both joint surfaces to leave two surfaces of raw bone.

A small cutting tool is then used to form a canal in the bones that form the thumb joint.

The metacarpal is where the implant is inserted. The implant has a long stem that is placed into the hollow marrow space of the bone.

The surgeon then completes the operation by using the tendons and ligaments around the joint to form a tight sack to hold the implant in place.

The skin is sutured together and a splint is applied. The hand will probably be in a splint, brace, or cast for six weeks.