Thumb Implants

Woman suffering from hand painOur defective medical implant device attorneys are investigating potential lawsuits and legal claims related to the Artelon CMC Spacer wrist / thumb Joint Implant as well as the Artelon SST Spacer Implant. The Artelon CMC Spacer is a thumb joint implant used to treat individuals suffering from early to mid stage arthritis of the hand. A woven textile device made of Artelon fibers, the Artelon CMC Spacer hand joint implant is a t-shaped piece of plastic gauze and is reported to be biocompatible and degradable. The Artelon CMC Spacer thumb / wrist / hand joint implant is manufactured by Artimplant AB and distributed in the United States by Small Bone Innovations, Inc.

Through outpatient hand joint surgery, the Artelon CMC Spacer is implanted near the base of the thumb, in the first carpometacarpal joint near the wrist joint, as an interpositional spacer between the trapezium bone and the first metacarpal bone. The Artelon SST Spacer is implanted in the Scaphotrapezium-Trapezoid Joint. The goal of the surgery is to preserve the thumb joint and help restore joint function while minimizing the need to sacrifice healthy bone and tissue.

Unfortunately, not all Artelon Spacer joint implant patients have a positive outcome. Problems related to the thumb joint implant include an inflammatory response and swelling with bone loss and may necessitate surgical removal of the failed implant device. It has also been reported that the Artelon CMC Spacer implant can break apart in the hand, requiring further joint repair surgery that may include the surgical removal of tendons from other areas of the body, such as the arm, to fully repair the wrist / thumb joint. Additionally, the thumbs of some patients have become visibly misshapen following an unsuccessful Artelon CMC Spacer joint implant surgery. Failure of the Artelon Spacer often results in pain and suffering related to additional surgeries unforeseen by the hand joint implant patient.

The defective medical device attorneys at Keefe Law Firm have undertaken an investigation of the Artelon CMC Spacer hand joint implant and the Artelon SST Spacer Hand Joint Implants.

If you or a loved one has had problems following an Artelon CMC Spacer hand joint implant, please contact our offices today by filling out the form to the right, or by calling (866) 575-5000. Our attorneys are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and all consultations are 100% free of charge.

If you have experienced any of the following complications following an Artelon CMC Spacer joint implant, or an outcome other than those listed here, we want to hear about it:

  • Pain / Inflammatory response Artelon Spacer removal
  • Bone loss
  • Redness at the base of the thumb near the implant
  • Misshapen thumb, oddly shaped thumb
  • Hand joint pain / swelling
  • Additional thumb joint surgeries
  • Limited range of motion

Osteoarthritis in the hands, thumb, wrist, and fingers is caused by the breakdown and loss of cartilage in the joints of the hand. Cartilage normally provides cushioning between the hand and finger bones and the joints, allowing for pain-free and comfortable hand, finger, wrist, and thumb movement.