Implantate der Hand

Abstract

Increasingly, implants in the region of hand joints and the wrist represent an alternative for the treatment of post-traumatic, inflamed, or degenerative joint damage. The diversity of hand functions also results in varied solutions, which are effective in their stability, mobility, and distraction. Different materials are necessary for this, and they require subtile radiological control. The native X-ray represents the substantial method to observe migration of the implants. Each interface between titanium, ceramic, zirconium, pyrocarbon, and silicon to the bone has to be assessed differently in order to obtain a relevant statement. The finger joints and to a limited extent the wrist represent the artificial joints with limited alternative therapy. Other implants in the hand should only be applied after strict indication and patient compliance, as arthrodesis and resection arthroplasty have shown very good long-term results.

No free lunch in orthopedics

“…Other cases were related to a specific implant design either in hip or shoulder, they are recognized in the literature and the indications should be made with caution with a clear logic of choice that include the possibilities of failure [4][5][6][7] Other "solutions" include trying to minimize a problem (polyethylene wear) with metal-on-metal articulations, which caused potentially a worse problem with metal ion disease. Shoulder surgeons have seen surgical induced chondromalacia from implants or chemical/medications placed in the shoulder or thermal devices [8], failures from partial resurfacing arthroplasties [4], knee surgeons have seen increased rates of revision of unicompartmental arthroplasty [9], hand surgeons have seen silicone failures [10].…”