Symptoms
Pain when pinching, opening jars or turning keys, Heberden's or Bouchard's nodes and, in some people, inflammatory flares.
Thumb base osteoarthritis
It causes pain at the base of the thumb and reduced pinch strength. Splints, targeted exercise and joint protection play an important role.
Diagnosis
Clinical and radiological. It is important to distinguish it from inflammatory arthritis, which requires different treatment.
Treatment
EULAR recommendations prioritise education, exercise, orthoses and individualised topical or oral pain relief.
Related content
A hot, very painful and swollen joint, especially with fever, requires urgent medical attention.