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Get your grip back with thumb arthritis surgery.

NEXT GENERATION THUMB ARTHRITIS TREATMENT

 

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My thumb pain Griplasty Hero Mobile 2

Experience the Griplasty™ difference.

If thumb pain is stopping you from opening a jar, turning a key, or doing the things you love like gardening, golfing and cooking - Griplasty™ may be the solution. 


Griplasty™ is a minimally invasive technology designed to effectively address arthritis in the CMC joint at the base of your thumb.

 

FO_Griplasty Female yoga (1)

Experience the Griplasty™ difference.

If thumb pain is stopping you from opening a jar, turning a key, or doing the things you love like gardening, golfing and cooking - Griplasty™ may be the solution. 


Griplasty™ is a minimally invasive technology designed to effectively address arthritis in the CMC joint at the base of your thumb.

FO_Griplasty Female yoga (1)
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MINIMALLY INVASIVE
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RETURN TO FUNCTION
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LOCAL SURGEONS

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Get back to the life you love.

Thumb basal joint arthritis is a common form of osteoarthritis in the hand and becomes more common with age*. It can make everyday tasks like opening a jar, gripping a pen, taking a golf swing or shaking hands painful and difficult. But you don't have to live with this pain.

“I was back to doing tasks with my hand within just a very few days.”#
“The recovery went really well and it was fairly quick to get back to pretty much doing whatever you needed to do and you know it was pretty easy.”#
“Recovery was a lot easier than I expected. Day one I went home with pain pills. By day two I was off of them.”#
“Even the smallest tasks like opening a jar or typing were uncomfortable. Within just a few days of my procedure, I was back to using my hand and the pain was gone.”#

Get back to the life you love.

Thumb basal joint arthritis is a common form of osteoarthritis in the hand and becomes more common with age*. It can make everyday tasks like opening a jar, gripping a pen, taking a golf swing or shaking hands painful and difficult. But you don't have to live with this pain.

“I was back to doing tasks with my hand within just a very few days.”#
“The recovery went really well and it was fairly quick to get back to pretty much doing whatever you needed to do and you know it was pretty easy.”#
“Recovery was a lot easier than I expected. Day one I went home with pain pills. By day two I was off of them.”#
“Even the smallest tasks like opening a jar or typing were uncomfortable. Within just a few days of my procedure, I was back to using my hand and the pain was gone.”#

How it works.

Griplasty™ is an implant made of suture material to support the base of the thumb after trapeziectomy. A single incision is made near the base of the thumb to remove the trapezium and implant the Griplasty™. 
Thumb joint replacements replace the joint entirely with an implant in a more invasive procedure. 
Your surgeon will counsel you on the procedure that is right for you.

 

1

 

Consultation


Your surgeon assesses your medical history and symptoms, looks at the CMC joint at the base of your thumb, and determines if you're a candidate for Griplasty™.

 

 

 

2

 

Procedure

 

Griplasty™ is a minimally invasive suspension technique designed to restore your grip. If you’re a candidate and are booked in for Griplasty™, your surgeon will let you know what to expect on the day.
 

 

3

 

Recovery

 

Griplasty™ technology is designed to optimize your outcomes and recovery. Your surgeon will let you know what to expect with your recovery.

 

 

Find a Griplasty™ surgeon near you.

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Lisa's Story

For Lisa Turney, owner of an equine nursery, the daily pain of thumb arthritis was becoming unbearable. Simple tasks like unloading the dishwasher, picking up cans for her food pantry donation, or even petting her dog would hurt.

 

Watch now  →

Sharon's Story

For healthcare professionals like Nurse Practitioner Sharon Noland, conditions like thumb arthritis can significantly impact their daily work and quality of life.  Getting stuck in a splint for 8 weeks wasn't an option for Sharon

 

Watch now  →

Kim's Story

For office professional and quilter Kim Newland, the pain in her in thumb was too much so she booked in her Griplasty the day after Christmas!
With out of pocket deductibles already covered it was finally time to get her arthritis treated permenantly.

 

Watch now  →

Frequently asked questions

What is thumb arthritis?

Thumb arthritis refers to degeneration of the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint (sometimes called the basal joint) at the base of the thumb.1 The CMC joint is formed where the thumb metacarpal bone meets the small wrist bone called the trapezium.1

 

References: 1. NHS South Tees Hospitals. Osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal thumb joint. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/resources/osteoarthritis-of-the-carpometacarpal-thumb-joint/

What causes thumb pain?

The carpometacarpal (CMC) joint allows for movements such as pinching, twisting, gripping but that also means it gets more “wear & tear”.2 Over time, the cartilage that cushions the joint becomes worn, the joint space may narrow, the bone surfaces may rub, and bony changes such as spurs may develop.2 Other risk factors for thumb arthritis include older age, being female (especially post-menopausal), previous surgery or injury and genetics.1–3

 

Degeneration of the thumb joint may cause pain, reduced grip strength, joint stiffness and difficulty performing everyday tasks such as opening a jar or turning a car key.1,2

 

References: 1. NHS South Tees Hospitals. Osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal thumb joint. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/resources/osteoarthritis-of-the-carpometacarpal-thumb-joint/ 2. Higginbotham C, Boyd A, Busch M, Heaton D, Trumble T. Optimal management of thumb basal joint arthritis: challenges and solutions. Orthop Res Rev. 2017;Volume 9:93-99. doi:10.2147/ORR.S138809 3. NHS Royal Berkshire. Osteoarthritis of the carpo-metacarpal thumb joint: conservative treatment. Published online January 2024. Accessed November 13, 2025. https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/media/be3n1tj5/osteoarthritis-of-the-carpo-metacarpal-thumb-joint_jan24.pdf

How is thumb arthritis diagnosed & treated?

Diagnosis - History & physical exam: Your doctor may ask questions about the history of your thumb pain and its impact on your life.4 A physical exam of the thumb may also be done to evaluate the thumb with various clinical tests.4

Imaging: Your surgeon may request X-rays of the hand and thumb base.8

Treatment - Non-surgical (conservative) treatments

Your doctor may recommend conservative (nonsurgical) treatments before considering surgery.5 This may include:

- Activity modification to reduce pressure on the thumb joint3
- Splinting to support the thumb during painful activities3
- Exercises to strengthen muscles that stabilise the thumb base3
- Medication for pain relief and/or anti-inflammatory medications3


Intra-articular injections of certain drugs (e.g. steroids) into the CMC joint could provide temporary relief from inflammation and pain.6

 

References: 1. NHS South Tees Hospitals. Osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal thumb joint. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/resources/osteoarthritis-of-the-carpometacarpal-thumb-joint/
2. Higginbotham C, Boyd A, Busch M, Heaton D, Trumble T. Optimal management of thumb basal joint arthritis: challenges and solutions. Orthop Res Rev. 2017;Volume 9:93-99. doi:10.2147/ORR.S138809
3. NHS Royal Berkshire. Osteoarthritis of the carpo-metacarpal thumb joint: conservative treatment. Published online January 2024. Accessed November 13, 2025. https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/media/be3n1tj5/osteoarthritis-of-the-carpo-metacarpal-thumb-joint_jan24.pdf
4. Normand M, Tang TS, Brismée JM, Sobczak S. Clinical evaluation of thumb base osteoarthritis: A scoping review. Hand Ther. 2021;26(2):63-78. doi:10.1177/17589983211002560
5. Poole Hospital NHS. Osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint. Published online December 2010.
6. Bhat S, Weeda L, Seth I, Rozen WM. Comparison of Surgical Techniques and Joint Injections for Base of Thumb Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review. J Hand Surg Glob Online. 2025;7(2):212-218. doi:10.1016/j.jhsg.2024.12.005
7. Barrera J, Yao J. Arthroscopic Management of Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Arthritis and Pathology. Hand Clin. 2022;38(2):183-197. doi:10.1016/j.hcl.2021.11.002
8. Moses MJ, Lorentz NA, Ayalon OB, Catalano LW. Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty What’s the Rule of Thumb? Bull Hosp Jt Dis 2013. 2023;81(1):84-90.

What should I do if I think I have thumb arthritis?

Talk to your doctor: Clearly describe your symptoms such as when and how the pain happens, what tasks you find difficult, any prior thumb/wrist injury, how it's affecting your life.

 

#The patient testimonials shown reflect the individual's personal views, discoveries, convictions, and/or journeys; outcomes for each person will differ. Not every individual receiving a product or treatment will achieve identical or comparable results. Variability in outcomes can arise from various elements, including the patient's unique situation, medical state, and the patient’s and surgeon’s adherence to the relevant instructions. Field Orthopaedics bears no responsibility for a healthcare professional's choice of treatment for any specific patient.  

Field Orthopaedics offers no assurances, guarantees, or warranties regarding the accessibility, correctness, timeliness, or completeness of the information provided, nor its content.

Product availability may not extend to all markets, as it is contingent upon regulatory and medical practices within each region. For inquiries concerning the accessibility of Field Orthopaedics products in your location, please reach out to your Field Orthopaedics representative or distributor.

© 2026 Field Orthopaedics Pty Ltd. Brisbane Australia.

*Athlani L, De Almeida YK, Martins A, Seaourt AC, Dap F. Thumb basal joint arthritis in 2023. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2024 Feb; 110(1S):103772. doi: 10.1016/j.otsr.2023.103772. Epub 2023 Nov 22. PMID: 38000508

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Contraindications, potential complications, warnings and precautions


In any surgical procedure, the potential for complications and adverse reactions exists. Contraindications include cases of inflammation, cases of active or suspected sepsis / infection and osteomyelitis and patients with certain metabolic diseases. The risks and complications with these implants can include loosening, deformation or failure of the implant, acute post-operative wound infections and late infections with possible sepsis, thrombosis and embolism, wound hematoma and delayed wound healing, temporary and protracted functional neurological perturbation and tissue reactions as the result of allergy or foreign body reaction to dislodged particles. All complications listed here are not typical of Griplasty™ but are in principle observed with any implant. Your surgeon will explain potential risks and complications associated with surgery, and give you instructions on the use and limitations of  Griplasty™.



Warnings and precautions related to the use of Griplasty™ include; Re-operation to remove or replace implants may be required at any time due to medical reasons or device failure. If appropriate action is not taken, complications may occur; Use of an undersized anchor in areas of high functional stresses may lead to implant fracture and failure; Postoperatively, until healing is complete, the fixation provided by this device should be protected. The postoperative regimen prescribed by the surgeon should be strictly followed to avoid adverse stresses being applied to the implant; Preoperative and operating procedures, including knowledge of surgical techniques and proper selection and placement of the implant, are important considerations in the successful utilization of this device.



These devices have not been evaluated for safety and compatibility in the MR environment.



Product availability may not extend to all markets, as it is contingent upon regulatory and medical practices within each region. For inquiries concerning the accessibility of Field Orthopaedics products in your location, please reach out to your Field Orthopaedics representative or distributor.




SURGEON FINDER DISCLAIMER


The information included on this website and the Find a Surgeon database is for informational purposes only. No physician has been paid or received a fee to be included in the database. The "Find a Surgeon" database does not include an exhaustive list of all physicians in a location and also does not include all physicians who use or have used Field Orthopaedics products. The surgeons shown have met the required criteria to be included in the database and are represented by the procedures they perform. Search results are based on proximity within the stated search criteria. Please filter accordingly based on your own preferences to find the doctor that's right for you.

Field Orthopaedics does not endorse, recommend, or make a referral to any physician included in the "Find a Surgeon" database.

Field Orthopaedics does not practice medicine; only a physician can answer your questions regarding your symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

This website may provide links to other websites not affiliated with Field Orthopaedics. Field Orthopaedics is not responsible for the content of such other sites.”