Houston Methodist West Hospital has successfully completed its first TOUCH thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint replacement, an innovative procedure designed to treat basal joint arthritis, one of the most common and debilitating forms of hand arthritis, the hospital announced on October 23. This condition can affect people of all ages and can make everyday activities such as gripping objects, turning keys and driving, painful and difficult.

Traditionally, surgery involved removing part or all of the trapezium, the small bone at the base of the thumb, and reconstructing the joint for pain relief, but doing so can also lead to shortening of the thumb, altered mechanics, deformity, and decreased strength.

The TOUCH implant offers a different approach that replaces the arthritic joint instead of removing it. It is designed to preserve thumb length and anatomy while providing more natural joint mechanics, including improved thumb function and strength.

Houston Methodist West Hospital orthopedic surgeon Dr. Corinne Cloud is the first surgeon in the greater Katy area and the second in the Houston Methodist system to offer the TOUCH procedure. Before introducing the technology at Houston Methodist West, she underwent specialized training in Switzerland.

“After reviewing the long-term clinical outcomes, I was excited to incorporate the TOUCH implant into my practice,” said Cloud. “The data demonstrates encouraging implant survivorship and a relatively low complication rate, with studies also showing improvements in pain and time to recovery compared with traditional procedures.”

The procedure represents a significant advancement in thumb joint replacement technology. Cloud adds that historically, thumb CMC joint replacement implants have had relatively high complication and failure rates, limiting their widespread adoption. The TOUCH implant is different in that it features a dual-mobility design intended to improve stability and reduce complications seen with earlier generations of implants.

The implant has been used in Europe for more than a decade with published studies showing approximately 90% implant survival after ten years, highlighting its strong long-term performance in one of the hand’s most complex and heavily utilized joints.

“As a hand surgeon, I am always looking to expand my surgical armamentarium with evidence-based techniques,” said Cloud. “The TOUCH implant represents an exciting advancement in our ability to achieve those goals.”

Because the thumb contributes significantly to overall hand function, losing partial or total function can have a substantial impact on a patient’s quality of life. The TOUCH implant now expands treatment options for patients seeking to maintain strength and hand mobility.

Houston Methodist West Hospital is located at 18500 Katy Freeway in Houston, near Greenhouse Road.