[A new titanium-carbon finger joint implant. Apropos of 15 initial cases]

Arthroplasty of the MP and PIP joint remains a therapeutic challenge for the hand surgeon. The poor results of the currently available implants are due to their mechanical conception (non strained) or their material (silicone causing instability, ruptures and silicone synovitis). The authors present the preliminary results of a new digital articular implant (IAD). It is a strained implant with a rigid hinge allowing 105 degrees of range of movement (0 degree to 105 degrees). Three sizes are available and very soon four. The intramedullary stems are in titanium alloy (TA6V) and the gliding surfaces in pyrolytic carbon. This association allows solidity, endurance, excellent gliding and no wear debris. 15 implants were evaluated (13 PIP and 2 MP joints) with a follow-up from 4 to 1 year. A painless range of motion were restored in 11 cases and 4 articulations were only lightly painful during motion requiring strength and at the end of the movement. The gain of the range of movement was 50 degrees always in a useful sector. The grasp was 60% better in post than in pre operative conditions. No infection was found. It is only the beginning of this implant but the indications seem to be good for all the articular destructions of the digital joints what ever was the aetiology (traumatic, infection or rheumatoid arthritis).