UCHealth First in Western U.S. to Offer “Game-Changing” Joint Replacement for Arthritis Patients

Aurora, Colo. (May 29, 2026) – UCHealth has become the first hospital in the western United States to perform a new thumb joint replacement surgery for patients suffering from arthritis.

The procedure replaces the thumb joint with a small prosthetic ball joint to restore strength, mobility and function while reducing recovery time and post-surgical pain.

The first procedures were performed at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital by a team of hand surgeons who trained in France, Belgium and Switzerland to learn the surgical technique to install the prosthesis.

The Touch CMC1 Dual Mobility Trapeziometracarpal prosthesis has been used successfully in Europe since 2018 but only received conditional FDA approval in the U.S. in 2025. UCHealth is one of only four medical centers participating in the post-approval clinical trial to monitor outcomes in American patients.

“This is a game changer for patients with thumb arthritis,” said Dr. Louis Catalano, hand surgeon and professor of orthopedics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “The new prosthesis allows patients to recover in a matter of weeks, not months. They also experience less pain during recovery and regain more thumb movement and strength afterwards.”

Thumb arthritis affects millions of Americans, especially women older than 40. The condition can make everyday tasks such as opening jars, turning doorknobs, texting or gripping objects painful and difficult. Traditional surgical treatment, thumb CMC arthroplasty, involves removing a small wrist bone called the trapezium and reconstructing the joint using tendon tissue, which often requires lengthy and painful recovery.

“Patients want to return to living their lives as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Fraser Leversedge, chief of hand surgery at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. “Since we began this new procedure, we’re seeing similar outcomes to what we’ve seen in Europe: better outcomes in a few weeks than we’d normally see in a few months.”

Traceyrené Martz Delgado had her surgery in February, becoming the first patient in the western U.S. to receive the implant in her right thumb. She says the procedure changed her life.

“It’s been amazing,” Delgado said of the procedure and her recovery. “After many years, I can finally work, hold my grandson and ride my e-bike without pain or limitations.”

Rather than a cast or a hard splint, which is standard after a traditional thumb CMC arthroplasty, Delgado left her procedure with her hand wrapped in gauze and an ace bandage and only needed two pills of prescribed pain medication.

Delgado plans to get the same procedure done on her left thumb in the future.