Hand Surgery
Annual report 2025
Quality made tangible
Our hands are crucial for our independence and quality of life. Pain or loss of function therefore has a direct impact on day-to-day life. This is exactly what Schulthess Klinik’s Hand Surgery department focuses on with the aim of implementing effective treatments as sparingly as possible.
When one intervention is enough
One example of this is the treatment of osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint, a common cause of pain and limited hand function. In advanced disease, surgery is often considered.
The previous surgical technique, which involved removal of the affected bone, frequently required operating on the adjacent thumb metacarpophalangeal joint and tightening or fusing it in order to correct hyperextension. However, our clinical research now shows that a single intervention is sufficient in many cases. The use of a modern thumb carpometacarpal joint prosthesis alone stabilises the metacarpophalangeal joint without the need for an additional operation.
For patients, this means less pain and better hand function with a lower surgical burden. This is entirely aligned with the “Smarter Medicine” approach, which aims to prevent overtreatment and incorrect treatment.
Humans and AI as a team
The Hand Surgery department combines clinical experience with innovation in order to be able to make such decisions in an even more targeted manner. As part of a research project, we are developing a method in which X-rays of the thumb carpometacarpal joint are additionally evaluated with the help of artificial intelligence. The aim is to assess the extent of osteoarthritis more consistently, plan operations more precisely and identify complications at an early stage.
This results in quality that is tangible and noticeable, through targeted interventions that are not inadequate, but not excessive either.
