Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) is pleased to announce that it has completed its first Keri TOUCH® CMC 1 Thumb Prosthesis implant surgery at Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC). The FDA-approved KeriMedical device is a cementless, dual-mobility, ball-and-socket implant designed to replace the damaged, pain-causing joint while preserving bone. The new thumb osteoarthritis surgery aims to give patients better function, faster recovery from surgery and reduced pain.
Peter Gibson, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at NAH Orthopedic & Spine Institute (OSI) in Flagstaff, was the first surgeon in Arizona to use this procedure when he completed the surgery on March 31, 2026. The implant, the first of its kind being used in the United States, is being used to treat moderate to severe osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb, also called osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal or thumb carpometacarpal joint. Thumb arthritis causes severe pain and grip weakness and is common, affecting an estimated 7% of men and 15% of women, according to the National Library of Medicine.
“We are so proud to be offering this new implant surgery with Dr. Gibson, for patients who are experiencing arthritis in their thumb,” said OSI administrator Matt Kraemer. “Dr. Gibson went to France in March, as this technology has been available in Europe for a decade, to train with approved surgeons and was so excited to bring this technology back to Flagstaff. NAH believes in investing in the community, and that means bringing innovative technology to the community to enhance patient care across the region,” Kraemer added.
“I have always had an interest in the intricacies of body mechanics, and when I learned about this new implant being approved by the FDA in the United States, I knew this would be a game changer for my patients,” said Dr. Gibson. “In the past, when a patient would be experiencing osteoarthritis in their thumb, we would need to remove parts of the anatomy, which would shorten the thumb and lead to diminished pinch strength. This new surgery helps with function, restores length and patients achieve nearly full mobility after surgery. I just had a two-week post-surgery follow-up appointment with my patient and she couldn’t be happier with the results. I’m excited to continue to welcome to patients for this surgery so we can help them increase their quality of life,” Dr. Gibson added.
Recovery after Keri TOUCH® CMC 1 Thumb Prosthesis implant surgery is generally faster than traditional methods, with many patients returning to light activity within two to four weeks and normal, heavy activities within two to three months. In the past, when patients would need to get the standard tendon reconstruction surgery for osteoarthritis, a patient’s hand would be completely immobilized for six-weeks. Dr. Gibson’s patient who received the implant, Roberta Steidl, voiced her enthusiasm for the surgery and her recovery process, during her two-week follow-up appointment, and had already resumed most of her normal activities.
People who are interested in this milestone surgery can reach out to the NAH Orthopedic & Spine Institute at 800-656-7880.