A group of researchers from Teesside have been awarded £2million to undertake a national study to investigate the best treatment option for base of thumb arthritis.
The Academic Centre for Surgery at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is part of a wider UK research team who are recruiting patients with symptomatic basal thumb osteoarthritis (BTOA) to take part in a randomised clinical trial.
The SCOOTT trial, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research will randomly assign patients to receive one of three treatment options: a non-surgical management (ENGAGE) package, trapeziectomy surgery or carpometacarpal joint replacement (CMCJR).
Researchers from South Tees Academic Centre for Surgery, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust and the University of York will evaluate if surgical treatment is better than non-surgical treatment and if CMCJR is as good as trapeziectomy for patients with BTOA.
Emma Reay, consultant hand and wrist surgeon at South Tees and co-chief investigator of the trial said:
“This is the first study of its kind, and we are delighted to have been given the opportunity to answer such an important and timely question in hand surgery.”
Nick Johnson, consultant hand and wrist surgeon at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust added: “The findings of this large study comparing three common treatment options will provide strong evidence about the best treatment to benefit patients and the NHS as a whole.”
Joy Adamson, Royal College of Surgeons chair in surgical trials at University of York said: “This will be the largest study to date and we are excited to start this important trial which will inform clinical practice and improve patient care.”
About the trial
The SCOOTT trial was officially launched at the British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) Spring Scientific Meeting on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 April 2024.