The new procedure requires physicians to dissect a thin piece of cartilage-bearing bone from the patient’s knee and then shape it to fit the gap in the wrist bone from damaged ligaments. The bone, including the original blood vessels and cartilage, is transferred to the wrist joint to solidly fuse the bone segment. The procedure is designed to preserve the cartilage surface and promote healing.
Dr. Higgins’ patient was the first person in the United States to receive the procedure. Six weeks after the procedure, the patient’s hand had healed to match the strength of his other hand, which previously received the conventional ligament reconstruction.
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