Meet the patients

New joint, new life – knuckle replacement surgery

Roy, 68, was treated at Southampton University Hospitals Trust when he had severe arthritis in his fingers. Formerly a postman and keen sportsman, he slowly had to give up both work and more of the pastimes he loved, as the intense pain in his first and middle fingers in his right hand worsened. Roy even had to stop driving long distances as the inflammation in his knuckles prevented him from gripping the steering wheel.

But with a referral from his GPR, Roy was able to access the specialised hand surgery on offer at SUHT. Roy's operation was one of about 30 knuckle replacements carried out by SUHT consultant hand surgeon David Warwick over the past few years.

In 2002, a new high-tech pyrocarbon knuckle was inserted into his index finger, and a year later a second was placed in his middle finger. During the complex operation, the replacement joint was attached to bone each side of the joint and the tendons were repaired over it to strengthen the new finger. The artificial joint is made of a graphite-like material that never wears out and has all the same rotating ability as the original.

Some months of hand therapy followed the operation, and now Roy has no pain at all. He can stretch his fingers, move them and grip things. He can drive again and is even able to play regular games of table tennis.

Replacing a rotating wrist

Southampton is also one of the UK's leading centres for replacing the rotating joint at the base of the wrist, called the ulnar head. These rare operations can only be offered because Southampton is a teaching hospital with specialised staff and a large catchment area that spreads across Wessex, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.

Julie, 68, had rheumatoid arthritis that developed in both hands left her unable to grip. She couldn't lift things, couldn't cut up her own food, took painkillers every day and had to wear wrist guards to drive.

But today, the pain has vanished and the 68-year-old from Bassett, Southampton, is as mobile as ever – thanks to a new ceramic-titanium rotating wrist joint.

The new joint, called the ulnar head, restores the unique rotating movement of the wrist. SUHT

surgeon David Warwick also inserted a titanium fusion plate across her wrist to solve the excruciating pain.

Now, Julia can lift things without thinking about it and go skiing again. She says: "It feels like I've got a completely new life."