Introduction

This episode of the ortho bullets podcast will go over the topic of basil or thumb arthritis from the hand section. Basil or thumb arthritis is a form of arthritis that causes pain at the base of the thumb and difficulty with pinching and grasping due to corpal metacarpal, or c m c joint. Diagnosis is made clinically with a painful c m c grind st and radiographs of the hand showing ostu arthritis of the first cm c joint. Treatment can be conservative, such as bracing or injections, or operative, depending on the severity of symptoms and the stage of disease.