Those who experience pain due to a worn-out knee or hip can have it repaired. However, those experiencing pain due to wrist wear are less fortunate. Not only do we repair wear and tear on the wrist less frequently, there are also fewer options in this area. Plastic surgeon Marius Kemler, working at Martini Hospital, hopes to offer a solution with a new method.
Kemler is the developer of a new and innovative method for fully and permanently repairing a worn wrist. The method uses 3D-printed implant. A scientific study on wider applicability of the new method will start this autumn.
Complex joint
"The wrist joint is a complex joint. One of the bones in the wrist is the ship-shaped bone, in the thumb side of the wrist. People break this little bone relatively often, for example due to a fall with an outstretched hand. A fracture can cause the bone to die. The standard treatment is to remove the three lower bones in the wrist joint. The bones above them then collapse a little and take over part of the function of the dead bone and the two removed 'neighbours'," Kemler explains.
"The problem with this, is that the tendon in your wrist and hand becomes slacker. Patients lose steering and strength in the wrist and hand. This has a great impact on their lives. This makes it difficult, for example, to hold something firmly with one hand, such as the handlebars of a bicycle or objects in the kitchen or when doing chores. This is what I wanted to improve."
Implant based on CT scan of healthy wrist
The 3D-printed implant was developed by Kemler in collaboration with Link Lima, manufacturer of orthopaedic implants. Together, they developed a 3D-printed implant that plasters exactly where the bone has died. They developed the implant using a CT scan of the healthy wrist of the patient in question.
"It was exciting every time whether the surgery would succeed. The implant had to fit precisely, because of course we were also dealing with surrounding tissue and cartilage which is very important for the joint to function properly," Kemler said.
Results are positive
Three patients underwent the repair surgery so far. The results have been positive. For instance, the patients are pain-free and experience more strength in both the hand and wrist than before the surgery. Martini Hospital also reports that the cartilage remains completely intact during the surgery. "All in all, we can conclude that in all patients the worn wrist has been fully and permanently restored. A wonderful result," reports Kemler.
In the short term, a scientific study is planned within Martini Hospital. The focus here is on applications of the technique for larger groups of patients. For this study, patients with wrist wear can register at Martini Hospital.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: Iris Vallejo via Pixabay
