Obligatory medical device diagnostics.
- Radiographs of the affected joint
- Evidence of migration of the thumb out of the saddle joint may be evident (instability of the joint)
- Joint space narrowing
- Subchondral (lying below the cartilage) cysts.
Note: The severity of radiographic findings need not correlate with clinical symptoms.
Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, laboratory diagnostics and obligatory medical device diagnostics – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Computed tomography (CT; sectional imaging procedure (X-ray images from different directions with computer-based evaluation), particularly well suited for the depiction of bony injuries) of the affected joint – findings correspond to the X-ray images, but earlier depiction possible; better depiction of complex structures.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; computer-assisted cross-sectional imaging method (using magnetic fields, that is, without X-rays); particularly well suited for imaging soft tissue injuries) of the affected joint.
