WRIST PROTHESIS

摘要

A wrist prosthesis having a distal part adapted to be fixed to one or more bones of the carpus or hand and a proximal part which includes means to fix the proximal part to both the radius and the ulna. The proximal part of the prosthesis may be a curved plate adapted to abut the distal surfaces of the radius and ulna when the radius and ulna are fused at their distal ends. The distal part of the prosthesis may be shaped to be supported by surfaces on at least three of the distal carpal bones. The prosthesis may include an intermediate component having a receptacle portion distally defining a concave bearing surface. The distal part may have a proximal side defining an ellipsoidal convex bearing surface having a generally part-circular cross-section, the ends of said ellipsoidal shape having a rounded profile deviating from an ellipse. This invention also provides a method of implanting a wrist prosthesis which is adapted to be attached to the distal ends of the radius and ulna which includes the steps of fixably attaching the prosthesis to the ends of the radius and ulna and thereafter severing the ulna to permit rotation of the wrist.