Thumb osteoarthritis can make everyday tasks harder than you might expect. If you feel pain at the base of your thumb, simple activities such as opening a jar, fastening buttons, working or playing sport can become uncomfortable.
The thumb plays an essential role in almost everything we do with our hands. When it hurts, it can affect your independence and quality of life. The good news is that treatment options are available, and the right approach depends on your symptoms and needs.
What is osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb?
Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage in a joint gradually wears down. At the base of the thumb, this can cause pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced movement. You may notice pain when gripping objects or using a pinch grip. As the condition progresses, discomfort may also occur at rest or at night. Your clinician can assess your symptoms and confirm the diagnosis with X-rays.
What treatment options are available?
Treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. Options may include a supportive brace or orthosis, corticosteroid injections and, in some cases, surgery. Your doctor will discuss the benefits and limitations of the available options with you and help you decide on a suitable plan.
How can Manometric braces help?
Manometric uses 3D-printing technology to create custom-made orthoses for the base of the thumb. Designed around your hand, the brace aims to provide support where you need it while helping you continue with everyday activities.
Comfort and fit matter: a personalised orthosis is designed to be comfortable to wear and practical for activities such as work, sport and hobbies. It can help support and protect the arthritic joint while reducing pain. Studies report patient satisfaction rates above 85%; however, results vary from person to person, and an orthosis may help some patients avoid surgery.
At Compass Clinic in Marbella, we are proud to offer this personalised technique. During a short, pain-free appointment, we scan your hand. Manometric’s engineers in the Netherlands then design and produce your orthosis, which is sent to the clinic and fitted by your doctor.
Our hand surgeon, Dr Jantine Posthuma de Boer, works closely with Dr Joris van der Lugt and Dr M. Steunebrink to provide coordinated, professional care.
Can Manometric help with other conditions?
Manometric also offers orthoses for osteoarthritis of the wrist and the small joints of the fingers. If you experience joint instability associated with hypermobility, hyperlaxity or Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, certain hand and wrist orthoses may also help. Your clinician can advise whether one may be suitable for you.
Meet your specialist
Dr Jantine Posthuma de Boer is an orthopaedic hand surgeon trained in the Netherlands and Belgium. She obtained the European Diploma in Hand Surgery (EBHS) in 2022 and is officially certified as a hand surgeon in the Netherlands.
She works part-time in the Netherlands and at Compass Clinic in Marbella, treating a wide range of hand conditions. She also teaches junior surgeons and is a council member of the Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand (FESSH). Her work is guided by a commitment to international collaboration and continuous development, with the aim of achieving the best possible outcomes for her patients.
