# Can one have Knuckle Replacement Surgery?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-have-knuckle-replacement-surgery/182262>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 16, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-have-knuckle-replacement-surgery/182262 "2003-06-16T18:18:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-have-knuckle-replacement-surgery/182262/1 "2003-06-16T18:18:21Z")

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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?

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-have-knuckle-replacement-surgery/182262/2 "2003-06-16T18:24:40Z")

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I think my mother did have knuckle replacement for her rheumatoid arthritis. It was some joint in her hand, anyway.

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**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-have-knuckle-replacement-surgery/182262/3 "2003-06-16T18:32:19Z")

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Most certainly - though I don’t think it’s as routine as hip replacement ([example here](http://www.medstarhealth.org/medicalmatters/week74.cfm)). They generally use silicone or plastic, but carbon fibre has been under trial recently

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-have-knuckle-replacement-surgery/182262/4 "2003-06-16T18:33:56Z")

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Here’s a [url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/health/100602\_hs\_helpinghands.html] from several months ago on the topic.

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-have-knuckle-replacement-surgery/182262/5 "2003-06-16T18:37:31Z")

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Christ, I have been unable to code the last few days. [Here](http://abclocal.go.com/wls/health/100602_hs_helpinghands.html).

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-have-knuckle-replacement-surgery/182262/6 "2003-06-16T18:39:40Z")

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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.