Byron McCormick, PhD, has a passion for innovation. The retired deputy division leader at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and former General Motors executive director of the Global Alternative Propulsion Center spent a career dedicated to developing, testing, and leading sustainable technology with cutting-edge science, always looking toward the future.
When he required hand surgery, he turned to James M. Saucedo, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with UT Physicians Orthopedics at Memorial Hermann | Rockets Sports Medicine Institute – The Woodlands, for a pioneering procedure.
“Dr. Saucedo is at the forefront of medicine. We have a lot in common,” Byron said. “He told me I would be his first patient for this new procedure. I’m proud to be a proof point, and happy to have been part of that for Dr. Saucedo.”
Understanding thumb arthritis
Byron and his wife took advantage of retirement to enjoy new adventures. They trekked the Dolomites in Italy, climbed the Pyrenees mountains in Spain, and completed the Inca Trail in Peru.
“The outdoors became our lifestyle,” Byron said proudly.
But an uncomfortable feeling began creeping around his left hand. Pain progressed over time until Byron had difficulty opening jars, holding a pencil, and grabbing a book. He was using a topical gel, wearing a brace, and received a steroid injection, but the pain in his dominant hand was keeping him awake at night, and over-the-counter medications stopped working.
“The pain was interfering with things I wanted to do in life, and that’s when I knew I had to get it checked out,” Byron said.
Thumb arthritis diagnosis
Byron was referred to Saucedo, who ordered same-day X-rays in the clinic. The diagnosis was clear: severe thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint arthritis, simply referred to as thumb arthritis or basal joint arthritis.
Thumb arthritis is common with aging. Symptoms include pain around the base of the thumb or palm that may worsen over time and lead to a weakened grip. The level of pain can span from deep and vague to very intense.
“Byron described the pain as a lightning bolt if he moved his thumb a certain way, accompanied by a crunching sensation,” said Saucedo, an associate professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
There is no single definitive cause for thumb arthritis, but there can be multiple contributing risk factors, such as genetics, modern thumb use, and trauma.
“We see a lot of patients with painful thumb arthritis, and that probably has a lot to do with people staying active longer and wanting to do more with their hands later in life,” Saucedo said.
Newly approved thumb arthritis surgery
Saucedo and his partners are among the first surgeons in Houston to offer the latest surgical solution for thumb arthritis, a thumb joint prosthesis. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in late 2025, the prosthesis offers patients significantly reduced recovery time, better function, and reduced pain.
Developed in Europe, the surgery involves embedding a small ball-and-socket joint, called the Touch Dual Mobility CMC 1 Prosthesis, into the base of the thumb, recreating its biomechanics and restoring thumb strength and stability.
“The data from this implant shows a high rate of success, and moreover, the patient experience is wonderful,” Saucedo explained. “Patients are able to move their thumb much faster and come away much happier sooner in their post-operative course.”
Before this pioneering thumb procedure, traditional surgery in the U.S. often involved removing the entire bone at the base of the thumb, called the trapezium. Patients commonly went home with a splint, and recovery could take 3-6 months, with some patients waiting up to a year for the full benefit.
“With this new prosthesis, we are removing less bone and getting patients back to their activities faster,” Saucedo said. “We’re essentially taking a worn-out joint and replacing it with a ball and socket that either preserves or restores motion and eliminates the pain.”
Inside the first procedure at UT Physicians
Byron’s surgery was an outpatient procedure, requiring no overnight hospital stay. Working alongside his colleague Dean W. Smith, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at UT Physicians Orthopedics – Memorial Villages, Saucedo made a small incision at the base of the thumb, on the outside of the hand.
The team removed small pieces of bone and made way for the prosthesis, akin to a hip replacement in the hand. The inaugural procedure was completed in under two hours.
Byron’s hand was wrapped in a soft dressing, and he was allowed to move his fingers right away. He was given minor restrictions, such as avoiding heavy lifting, pushing, and pulling for six weeks.
“We’ve found that the recovery is not only faster, but patients require much less pain medicine after this procedure,” Saucedo said.
The patient’s perspective
There are several options for treating CMC arthritis, and Byron chose the latest procedure, knowing he would be the first patient at UT Physicians and among the first in Houston to do so.
“This wasn’t a trivial decision. I did my research. I realized this was where technology meets capability, and to me, it was very clear that UT Physicians and Dr. Saucedo are where those two things came together,” Byron said.
Recovery
Byron began physical therapy one week after surgery, and his left hand was pain-free and functioning within six weeks. Recovery was smooth, and he was cleared from physical therapy after 12 weeks.
“I had to close my eyes and pick up marbles from a bowl of rice,” Byron said. “The physical therapist focused on getting all my nerves to refire.”
The small incision on his left hand has fully healed with no sign of a scar.
“The stitching was extraordinary, and the sutures slid right out,” Byron said.
Restoring thumb strength and quality of life
Nearly half of all hand function depends on the thumb, making thumb arthritis debilitating when the pain is severe.
“The thumb is a big part of everyday hand use. When it goes out, it’s devastating for a lot of people,” Saucedo said. “Being able to restore function and reduce pain is incredibly rewarding.”
It’s been more than six months since his surgery, and Byron is back to adventures and new hobbies like learning the piano.
“Dr. Saucedo is one of the most highly qualified hand surgeons not only in Texas, but possibly in the world,” Byron said. “This facility and the team are as qualified as you can get.”
As one of the first teams in Greater Houston to receive training and perform this procedure, Saucedo, Smith, and their UT Physicians colleagues are excited to bring this life-changing solution to patients.
For more information about treatment for thumb arthritis or to schedule an appointment with an orthopedic specialist, call or visit UT Physicians orthopedics and sports medicine.