You probably know someone who has had a knee replacement or a hip replacement. Even though they are quite intense and invasive surgeries they are increasingly common as a way to improve quality of life for people who have had problems in these areas of their body. In America alone there are over 750,000 of these procedures carried out every year.
You might not be so familiar, though, with the idea of a knuckle replacement. Your hands are one of the first places that are likely to suffer the effects of arthritis. And, yes, it is now possible to have these tiny joints replaced to ease discomfort, pain and mobility issues that are caused by the onset of the disease. The surgery method is still being perfected, but we are already seeing excellent results for people with arthritic hands.
Unlike hip and knee replacements, the procedure is quick and relatively simple. However it’s not always an appropriate treatment for everybody and does carry a risk of complications and failure. It has also been argued by a number of experts that the concept of knuckle replacement has not been studied enough yet for it to be a common treatment for people suffering with aching hands.
Interestingly, this concept is not a new one. Knuckle replacements were first used as early as the 1950s. In general, the surgery is used only as a last resort for people who are in severe pain or lack of mobility in their hands and fingers. That typically means arthritis patients whose pain interferes with daily lives and people whose pain can’t be treated by non-surgical treatments like finger braces.
For a long time it was only used in people who have rheumatoid arthritis, as it can deform the hand. But increasingly we are seeing severe cases of osteoarthritis being treated with a knuckle replacement.
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