Joost van Oss, an artist, was chopping wood years ago when he injured the middle knuckle on his right hand. The intense pain and swelling that followed the accident forced him to give up activities he enjoyed, such as sailing and cooking. This mishap also nearly ended his career as a sculptor and painter. He turned to David A. Kulber, MD, FACS, Clinical Chief and Director of the Cedars-Sinai Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Los Angeles, California.
Dr. Kulber performed surgery on van Oss by using knee meniscus from a cadaver to reconstruct van Oss’ finger joint, which is a departure from the conventional technique of inserting a silicone implant into a joint.
According to Dr. Kulber, silicone implants are imperfect because they can become infected or break over time, leaving patients with lasting pain or in need of follow-up surgeries. Because the meniscus is malleable, it fits neatly into the joint, merging into the finger as new blood flows through it, Dr. Kulber said.
The patient regained mobility in his finger and just nine months after surgery he can now carry-on with the activities that he once did, all without pain. “You don’t realize what you’re missing when you have pain,” van Oss said. “Once it’s gone, all of the possibilities that were once there show up again.”
Dr. Kulber pioneered joint reconstruction with cadaver meniscus in the hope of achieving better outcomes for patients like van Oss who suffer from damaged finger joints or arthritis. “This is a very exciting approach to a problem that has defied reliable solutions,” said Dr. Kulber. “It’s a promising option because the meniscus becomes part of the finger.”