Just wondering here. If we can get a knee replaced, or a hip why can we not get knuckles replaced as well if we have Arthritis? I wouldn’t mind having stainless steel bones in my hand. I’m sure my grandmother wouldn’t either if it would make the pain go away.
I guess the major problem would be the weight, but that could be quelled by utilizing porceline or someother synthetic material…right?
I think my mother did have knuckle replacement for her rheumatoid arthritis. It was some joint in her hand, anyway.
Most certainly - though I don’t think it’s as routine as hip replacement (example here). They generally use silicone or plastic, but carbon fibre has been under trial recently
Here’s a [url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/health/100602_hs_helpinghands.html] from several months ago on the topic.
Christ, I have been unable to code the last few days. Here.
The first surgery I ever saw on TV, many years ago, was a knuckle replacement for a severely arthritic patient. IIRC, the joint itself was nylon, attached to stainless steel anchor posts that were screwed into the finger bones. This was in the mid 70s, and I imagine the technique and materials have been greatly improved.