TOUCH® Thumb Joint Replacement for Thumb Arthritis
TOUCH® Thumb Joint Replacement in Algonquin and Elgin, IL
Pain at the base of your thumb can make gripping, pinching, and everyday tasks difficult. This often comes from osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint, also called basal joint or thumb CMC arthritis.
Anthony L. Logli, M.D., a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and fellowship-trained hand and upper extremity specialist, offers TOUCH® dual mobility thumb joint replacement at OrthoIllinois in Algonquin and Elgin, Illinois. He considers the entire limb when planning care and can help you decide whether this procedure, another operation, or continued nonsurgical treatment is appropriate for you.
What Is TOUCH® Thumb Joint Replacement?
TOUCH® is a dual mobility trapeziometacarpal prosthesis manufactured by Keri Medical. It replaces the worn basal joint of the thumb rather than removing the trapezium, as is done in traditional trapeziectomy (resection arthroplasty).¹ The implant is a ball-and-socket device with two concentric articulating surfaces, a dual mobility feature intended to increase stability and range of motion.⁴ A titanium stem is placed in the first metacarpal and a cup in the trapezium. The liner is vitamin E highly cross-linked polyethylene, and component sizes can be selected to match your anatomy.⁴ Thumb CMC osteoarthritis becomes more common with age and is more often symptomatic in women.¹ In France, trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty accounted for 75.1% of surgical procedures for this condition in 2024.³ Practice patterns in the United States remain more varied, and Dr. Logli will discuss which option best fits your goals.
What Are the Benefits of TOUCH® Thumb Joint Replacement?
For appropriately selected patients, modern thumb CMC joint replacement may offer several potential advantages compared with trapezium removal:
- Faster early pain relief: Modern prostheses can reduce pain more quickly than trapeziectomy in the first weeks after surgery.¹
- Earlier functional improvement: Studies have shown better short-term function, motion, and pinch strength within the first 6 to 12 weeks.¹
- Preservation of thumb length: Keeping the trapezium in place is intended to maintain thumb length and joint mechanics.¹
- Improved pinch and motion: In 61 TOUCH® implants followed for a mean of 6.5 years, pain scores fell from 7.3 to 0.4, and motion and key pinch reached 102% of the opposite side.¹
- High mid-term satisfaction: In a five-year TOUCH® registry study, 93% of questionnaire respondents were satisfied or very satisfied, and estimated implant survival was 96%.²
- A revision pathway if needed: If a prosthesis fails, it can often be converted to a trapeziectomy.¹
Benefits vary depending on the patient. Early advantages over trapeziectomy often diminish by 12 months, when pain and function may be similar.¹ Trapeziectomy remains a reliable option when a prosthesis is not appropriate.
When Is TOUCH® Thumb Joint Replacement Recommended?
Dr. Logli may consider this procedure when several of the following apply:
- You have painful thumb CMC (basal joint) osteoarthritis that limits gripping, pinching, or daily activities.
- Nonsurgical care, such as activity modification, splinting, medications, injections, and therapy, has not provided enough relief.¹
- The trapezium has enough bone to support a cup; a height of less than 6 mm is generally a contraindication.¹
- You do not have advanced, painful arthritis of the nearby scaphotrapeziotrapezoid (STT) joint.¹
- Bone quality is adequate. Poor bone quality related to osteoporosis is a common contraindication.¹
- You do not have complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).¹
- Faster rehabilitation is an important goal, after the risks and alternatives have been reviewed.¹
Not every case of thumb arthritis requires surgery. Dr. Logli can evaluate your symptoms, examination, and imaging and discuss whether joint replacement, trapeziectomy, fusion, or continued nonsurgical care is the better choice. In younger patients with physically demanding work, the still-limited long-term data on prostheses under high load should be part of that discussion.¹
What Does Preparation for TOUCH® Thumb Joint Replacement Involve?
Preparation begins with a careful evaluation of your thumb, hand, and wrist. Dr. Logli will review your symptoms, activity demands, and prior treatments and examine the basal joint. Radiographs of the thumb and wrist are used to confirm arthritis and to look for changes in neighboring joints, including the STT joint. Computed tomography may be used in selected cases for planning.¹ You will also review the procedure, recovery, and alternatives, including trapeziectomy and, in some cases, fusion. Tell Dr. Logli about your medications, allergies, and other health conditions. He will give you specific instructions before surgery, including arrangements for a ride home.
How Is TOUCH® Thumb Joint Replacement Performed?
The procedure is performed in an operating room. In published series, the prosthesis has been implanted through a standard dorsolateral approach to the basal joint.² The worn joint surfaces are prepared, a cup is placed in the trapezium, and a titanium stem is placed in the first metacarpal. A neck and dual mobility polyethylene liner complete the articulation, with sizes chosen to fit your anatomy.⁴ The stem and cup are designed for cementless fixation, with a dual titanium and hydroxyapatite coating intended to support bone ongrowth.⁴ Your anesthesia plan and the details of your operation will be reviewed with you before surgery.
What to Expect During Recovery After TOUCH® Thumb Joint Replacement?
Recovery plans vary, and Dr. Logli will give you a program based on your surgery and healing. In a published TOUCH® registry protocol, the thumb was immobilized for 3 to 5 days, after which patients began active motion without load. Unrestricted daily activities were allowed after a radiographic check at 6 weeks.² Rehabilitation after trapeziectomy can take 3 to 6 months and, in some series, up to 9 to 12 months.¹ Comparative studies have found faster early recovery with modern prostheses in the first 6 to 12 weeks, with results often becoming similar by one year.¹ Hand therapy may be recommended. Follow Dr. Logli’s instructions about lifting, pinching, and return to work or sports.
What Are the Risks and Complications of TOUCH® Thumb Joint Replacement?
As with any operation, thumb joint replacement carries risks. Reported complications of dual mobility thumb CMC arthroplasty include:
- Loosening of the trapezial cup¹,²
- Dislocation of the implant¹,²
- Painful impingement²
- Wear or fracture of the polyethylene liner²
- Need for revision surgery, including component exchange or conversion to trapeziectomy¹,²
- de Quervain’s tenosynovitis²
- Trigger thumb or trigger finger²
- Radiographic signs of loosening or a radiolucent line around the implant²
- Persistent pain or incomplete improvement in function²
- Wound or soft-tissue problems around the incision²
Some studies have reported slightly higher revision rates after prosthetic replacement than after trapeziectomy, which may partly reflect how readily a failed implant can be converted to trapezium removal.¹ In the five-year TOUCH® registry study, five revisions occurred, and estimated implant survival was 96%.² Your surgeon can discuss these risks with you based on your individual condition.
Why Choose Dr. Logli for TOUCH® Thumb Joint Replacement in Algonquin and Elgin?
Dr. Logli is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with an additional American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery certification for surgery of the hand. He completed a five-year orthopedic surgery residency at Mayo Clinic and a fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, where he trained in microvascular and reconstructive procedures of the hand, elbow, and shoulder. He practices at OrthoIllinois, a division of OrthoMidwest, in Algonquin and Elgin, Illinois, and specializes in nonsurgical and surgical care of the upper extremity, including basal joint arthritis. Dr. Logli is currently one of only a few surgeons in Illinois offering TOUCH® thumb joint replacement. He is a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the American Medical Association, and he emphasizes a personalized approach so that you understand your condition and options.
TOUCH® Thumb Joint Replacement FAQs
How is TOUCH® thumb joint replacement different from removing the trapezium?
Joint replacement keeps the trapezium and substitutes an implant for the worn basal joint. Trapeziectomy removes the trapezium. Replacement may allow faster early recovery and help preserve thumb length, though longer-term results can be similar.¹
How soon might I use my hand after surgery?
In a published TOUCH® protocol, gentle active motion began after 3 to 5 days of immobilization, and unrestricted daily activities were allowed after a 6-week X-ray check.² Dr. Logli will tailor your plan to your surgery.
How durable is the TOUCH® implant?
Mid-term data are encouraging, but longer-term results are still being studied. A five-year registry study reported 96% estimated implant survival and 93% satisfaction among respondents.² A 6.5-year series of 61 implants reported one revision (2%).¹
Can I have this procedure if I have arthritis in other wrist joints?
Advanced, painful STT joint arthritis is a common contraindication, as is a trapezium that is too small or of poor bone quality.¹ Dr. Logli will review your radiographs to see whether the implant is appropriate.
What happens if the implant needs to be revised later?
If a prosthesis fails, options may include exchanging components or converting the joint to a trapeziectomy.¹,² Dr. Logli can explain which path would be considered in your situation.
TOUCH® Thumb Joint Replacement in Algonquin and Elgin, IL
If painful thumb arthritis is limiting your daily activities, Dr. Logli can review whether TOUCH® thumb joint replacement or another treatment is appropriate for you. He sees patients at the OrthoIllinois Algonquin Clinic at 650 S. Randall Road, Algonquin, IL 60102, and the Elgin Clinic at 1550 N. Randall Road, Elgin, IL 60123. Request an appointment in Algonquin or Elgin to discuss your thumb arthritis options.
References
- Boever J, Unglaub F, Spies CK, Cavalcanti Kußmaul A, Wulf J, Böcker W, Ayache A. Surgical therapy of conservatively exhausted rhizarthrosis – total joint replacement or resection arthroplasty? A systematic review. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. Published March 12, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-025-06180-5
- Herren DB, Mathis KH, Schindele S, Marks M. Determinants of patient satisfaction 5 years after dual-mobility trapeziometacarpal joint implant arthroplasty. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. First published July 24, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1177/17531934261468204
- Abdoulaye-Diallo H, Roux J-L, Zemirline A. Prosthesis is the new Gold Standard for rhizarthrosis surgery in France. Hand Surg Rehabil. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hansur.2026.102619
- Keri Medical. TOUCH Range [brochure]. CB 110_74.00_EN. May 2026.
