[Pyrocarbon prosthesis for finger interphalangeal joint replacement. Experience after one year]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomaterials science

Background:

• Long-term outcomes of proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint replacement have been historically disappointing.
• Pyrolytic carbon implants represent a recent advancement in PIP joint arthroplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the 1-year outcomes of pyrolytic carbon implants for PIP joint replacement.
• Assessed range of motion, implant stability, and pain relief.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of 13 patients (17 PIP joints) who underwent cementless implantation of pyrolytic carbon prostheses.
• Utilized pre- and postoperative visual and verbal analogue scales for pain assessment.
• Radiological and clinical parameters assessed implant stability.

Main Results:

• Improved average PIP joint range of motion from 0-28-51 preoperatively to 0-22-77 postoperatively.
• Achieved 80% pain relief on the visual analogue scale and 62% improvement on the verbal analogue scale.
• Demonstrated functional superiority compared to arthrodesis.

Conclusions:

• Pyrolytic carbon implants provide significant pain reduction and functional improvement for PIP joint replacement.
• Careful patient selection and a tailored postoperative protocol are crucial for optimal results.