Artificial Knuckles Aid Arthritis Sufferers Researchers at the Mayo Clinic may have developed a new way to help persons who suffer from the crippling effects of severe rheumatoid arthritis. A new generation of finger-joint replacements help relieve pain and restore almost normal functioning to the hand, in addition to lasting longer than previous models. The new joints are constructed of metal and polyethylene plastic, which allows for greater motion than silicone implants, as pieces of the silicone sometimes break off. In the two-hour surgery, between two and four knuckles on one hand can be replaced, with knuckles on the other hand implanted in a separate surgery later on. The surgery's goals are to provide pain relief, correct the disfigurement caused by rheumatoid arthritis, and restore pinching and gripping of the hand.
Physical therapy is necessary for up to six weeks.
Aggrenox functions as an antiplatelet, preventing blood platelets from clumping to form the blood clots that lead to stroke. Precedex provides sedative effects, with a limited need for pain medications, without affecting a patient's respiratory state. It is delivered by continuous infusion to the patient and selectively activates alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the nervous system, inhibiting stress response, moderating blood pressure and heart rate, allaying anxiety, and inducing sedation. The FDA has given marketing approval to ReFacto for the treatment of hemophilia A. It has been approved by the FDA for the control and prevention of bleeding episodes for surgical patients with hemophilia A and for short-term routine prevention and limitation of the frequency of spontaneous bleeding incidents. ReFacto will be the third genetically modified form of factor VII, the naturally occurring protein needed for blood clotting, to be introduced in the United States.