[Osteoarthritis of the thumb and fingers].

Most commonly affected joints of the hand in osteoarthritis include the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb (CMC 1) and the distal (DIP) and proximal (PIP) interphalangeal joints. Ageing, female gender, genotype, heavy work causing pressure on the hands, and injuries predispose to osteoarthritis in the hand. The pain is likely to be due to secondary synovitis caused by molecules released from the joint cartilage. Initial treatment of osteoarthritis is always conservative: analgesic medication, splint and physiotherapy. Surgery is considered for severe symptoms. The most common procedures include arthrodeses and arthroplasties with autogenous grafts or implants.