In many different forms, carbon moves between the totality of all living things on earth (the biospherePart of the Earth where life is found. The biosphere consists of all living things, plant and animal.
Surgical options for thumb osteoarthritis include: CMC joint fusion (arthrodesis) -- an option for patients looking for pain relief who are not overly concerned about losing fine thumb motion joint replacement or arthroplasty -- plastic or metal prostheses are used to replace the CMC joint (prosthesis serves as a spacer after the arthritic surfaces of the bones in the CMC joint are removed)
Osteoarthritis causes cartilage-- a tough but flexible tissue that covers the ends of the bones forming a joint -- to wear away gradually. Thumb osteoarthritis most commonly affects the joint at the base of the thumb, also known as the basal joint or the carpometacarpal joint (CMC joint). The CMC joint is formed where the metacarpal bone of the thumb attaches to the trapezium bone of the wrist.