24928359
OBJECTIVE	To compare the results for treatment of basal thumb osteoarthritis with and without the use of a bone tunnel at the base of the first metacarpal .
METHODS	Women aged 40 years or older with stage IV osteoarthritis were randomized to 1 of 2 treatments .
METHODS	Patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 3 and 12 months by assessing pain , outcome function measures , range of motion , strength , time to return to work or activities , satisfaction with the results , and complication rate .
RESULTS	A total of 79 patients were enrolled in this study .
RESULTS	Three months after surgery , Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation pain and total scores were significantly improved in the bone tunnel group compared with the tunnel-free group .
RESULTS	At 12 months , however , we found no significant differences for all outcome scores between groups .
RESULTS	In addition , we observed no significant differences between groups in strength , duration to return to work or activities , patient satisfaction , and complication rates .
CONCLUSIONS	After the bone tunnel technique , patients have better function and less pain 3 months after surgery than do those in the non-bone tunnel group , which indicates faster recovery .
CONCLUSIONS	However , 12 months after surgery , the functional outcome was similar .
CONCLUSIONS	Because of faster recovery , we prefer the bone tunnel technique in the treatment of stage IV osteoarthritis .
METHODS	Therapeutic I.

