The goal of a joint fusion, also called arthrodesis, is to fuse the joints together to facilitate bone growth. Finger joint fusion can help relieve the pain in the finger joints caused by arthritis. The surgeon makes a cut in the skin and removes the damaged joint from the finger.

Yet surgery to repair the damage from hand arthritis is relatively rare. One reason is that finger surgery has a high complication and failure rate. It can also sacrifice mobility for pain relief. The two main surgical options for hand arthritis are fusion (arthrodesis) and total knuckle replacement (arthroplasty).

Hand Osteoarthritis Treatment

1. Painkiller pills. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs like ibuprofen can ease pain.
2. Immobilizing devices. A splint, brace, or sleeve can hold your hand in a stable position to lessen pain.
3. Hand therapy.
4. Cortisone shots.

In most cases of arthritis, the disease progresses and worsens. Arthritis surgery performed by our plastic surgeons can repair or replace the affected joint(s). There are different options for treatment depending on your needs. Joint Fusion is recommended for severe bone deterioration.

Within about eight to 10 weeks, the majority of patients regain, on average, about two-thirds of the finger’s normal range of motion. By that point, patients are able to resume their usual activities.

The FDA has approved diclofenac (Voltaren) gel as a treatment for osteoarthritis. Your doctor may also prescribe injections if oral drugs aren’t doing the trick. An injection of anti-inflammatory medicines, usually a steroid, and anesthetics can calm the inflamed joints quickly and last for several months.

In a typical procedure, surgeons remove diseased or defective tissue and reshape surfaces to allow for better function. They use several tools that can make precise cuts, grind, and provide suction for joint repair.

There are two finger joints that can be replaced: The PIP joint is the second joint from the end of your finger….Common joint replacement surgeries include:

• Hip replacement.
• Shoulder replacement.
• Knee replacement.
• Hand and wrist replacement.
• Ankle replacement.
• Finger joint replacement.

On MDsave, the cost of a Finger Joint Replacement with Arthroplasty ranges from $8,823 to $11,077. Those on high deductible health plans or without insurance can save when they buy their procedure upfront through MDsave. Read more about how MDsave works.

The most common surgery is a finger joint fusion. This procedure holds the joint in a fixed position to prevent any further motion at the affected joint. 9  While the joint is then stiff forever, the pain is usually alleviated. Furthermore, during finger joint fusion surgery, your doctor can straighten any deformity and remove bone spurs.

Examples of the benefits it can bring include: Elimination of pain. Reduction of swelling. Potentially avoiding surgery. Allowing for post-operative healing. Returning to previous levels of functionality. Those dealing with middle finger joint pain should not face it alone.

At the middle joint of a finger (the proximal interphalangeal or PIP joint) All forms of hand arthritis can cause stiffness, swelling, pain, and deformity. Osteoarthritis sometimes causes bony nodules at the middle joint of the finger (Bouchard’s nodes) or at the end joint of the finger (Heberden’s nodes) (see Figure 2).

The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint is the joint in the middle of the finger. The metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint is the main big knuckle, where the finger attaches to the hand. Regardless of the cause, the first treatment for finger arthritis is non-operative.