Can genetics impact need for surgery in patients with thumb osteoarthritis?

Researchers identified 7 genetic variants that may be associated with surgical rhizarthrosis and 3 variants suggestively associated with nonsurgical rhizarthrosis. They noted that uncovering genetic differences between these patient groups may reveal biological mechanisms that affect various aspects of rhizarthrosis.

“Our findings delve into the genetic architecture of osteoarthritis in the thumb base, hinting at a potential genetic influence on the need for surgery,” said corresponding author Cecilie Henkel, MD, PhD, of Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, in Denmark. “While no solid conclusions about the effect of specific genetic variants on the need for surgical treatment should be made at this stage, our study marks a stride towards integrating genetic insights into the clinical management of osteoarthritis, with the long-term aim of refining diagnosis, treatment, and preventative strategies for this common and debilitating disease.”

Reference:

Cecilie Henkel, DBDS Genomic Consortium, Christian Erikstrup, Sisse R. Ostrowski, Ole B. Pedersen, Anders Troelsen, Genetics may affect the risk of undergoing surgery for rhizarthrosis, Journal of Orthopaedic Research, https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.25753.