UCHealth surgeons in Colorado have performed a new type of thumb arthritis surgery for the first time in the western United States. The procedure, carried out on February 16 at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, uses a Swiss-designed prosthesis intended to improve function and reduce pain for patients with thumb arthritis.
A team from the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine trained in Europe to learn this surgical technique before performing it on U.S. patients. According to Dr. Fraser Leversedge, chief of hand surgery at University of Colorado Hospital, “Everything went very smoothly. The patient had a significant amount of arthritis.” He added that the surgical team was able to remove the arthritic joint and implant the new prosthesis.
Dr. Louis Catalano, who also participated in the operation, said, “The surgery went great thanks to all of our training and all of the studying we’ve been doing.”
Thumb arthritis is common, affecting an estimated 7% of men and 15% of women—particularly postmenopausal women. Traditional treatments often involve removing the trapezium bone at the base of the thumb and can lead to several weeks of pain as well as diminished pinch strength.
The newly introduced Touch CMC 1 Dual Mobility Trapeziometracarpal Prosthesis offers an alternative by embedding directly into existing bone structures rather than removing them. This approach is designed to result in less trauma during surgery and faster recovery times for patients.
Since European approval in 2018, more than 150,000 patients overseas have received this type of implant. U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials granted conditional approval for its use domestically in July 2025 while requiring ongoing clinical trials for final approval.
Currently, only four medical centers across Texas, Illinois, East Coast locations, and now Colorado are offering this new procedure as part of those clinical trials.
Catalano noted improved outcomes among European patients compared to traditional U.S.-based procedures: “In America, that’s a two-month process,” he said when describing recovery timelines after observing similar surgeries abroad.
Dr. Matthew Belton commented on patient progress following surgery: “Even the two-week patients were outperforming some of my patients at six months.”
The UCHealth team plans to expand availability by training additional colleagues throughout Colorado so that more facilities can offer this new option soon. About 50 local patients are already scheduled for upcoming procedures after having exhausted nonsurgical alternatives such as medications or splints.
“It’s hopefully going to be a game changer,” Catalano said.
