News A huge thumbs up: Hand Surgery department celebrates 500th Touch thumb carpometacarpal thumb joint prosthesis implantation
In March, the Hand Surgery department successfully implanted its 500th Touch prosthesis in a patient with carpometacarpal osteoarthritis of the thumb joint. Schulthess Klinik has been using this state-of-the-art joint prosthesis, which has revolutionised thumb arthroplasty, since 2018.
The Touch prosthesis is a state-of-the-art artificial joint that we have been using with great success to treat patients with carpometacarpal osteoarthritis of the thumb joint since 2018. Unlike resection arthroplasty, procedures involving Touch prostheses preserve the large trapezium bone. We systematically record every patient who receives this prosthesis in a secure register. This allows us to follow the progress of patients for years after their surgery. The results show that Touch prosthesis recipients have a significantly reduced rehabilitation time and improved grip strength after surgery, which results in increased functionality and a better quality of life. These positive results have led us to make the Touch Thumb Carpometacarpal Prosthesis our standard surgical implant, replacing resection arthroplasty in most cases.
A leading international centre for hand surgery
The Schulthess Klinik Hand Surgery department accommodates over 300 inpatient stays and performs 1,700 surgical procedures on the hand and forearm every year. 2023 was a successful year for the Klinik, with the first procedure using a 3D-printed thumb carpometacarpal joint implant and our award for delivering quality hand surgery both cementing our place as an international centre of excellence. Our aim is always to improve our patients’ quality of life.
