A first carpometacarpal joint implant. One embodiment of the invention
includes proximal and distal components. The proximal component includes
a fixation portion for attachment to one or more elements of a patient's
distal carpal row, a ball-type joint portion cantilevered off the
fixation portion, and a skid having a concave surface opposite the
ball-type joint for engaging a patient's scaphoid bone. The distal
component has a fixation portion for attachment to a patient's thumb
metacarpal, and a socket-type joint portion that cooperates with the
ball-type joint portion of the proximal component.