Trapeziectomy

Procedure:

• A regional anaesthetic or a general anaesthetic may be administered to numb your arm. The operation is performed through a tiny incision at the base of the thumb.
• To protect the thumb after surgery, a thick dressing is used. It's crucial to keep the hand raised at this time to help with swelling and to keep the fingers moving to avoid stiffness. The dressing and stitches are removed after two weeks, and a lighter splint is fashioned to allow you to use your hand for light tasks while still protecting your thumb. It is safe to get the hand wet once the wound has healed, but make sure it is completely dry before reapplying the splint. You can moisturise and massage the scar at this point.
• You will be given some exercises to do outside of the splint after four weeks. The amount of work you should accomplish with your hand at this point is determined by how much pain you are experiencing. If using the thumb causes pain, place it back in the splint.