Importance

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Abstract

There is provided a metacarpal-phalangeal joint replacement having two members, one for insertion into each of the respective bones in the joint. Each member defines a tail and a head, and the two heads are adapted to fit with each other in such a way that when the finger is extended, the joint and thus the finger have a limited degree of lateral freedom to swing from side to side, whereas when the finger is flexed, this lateral freedom is considerably restricted. This variation is brought about by making the face of one head generally protuberant, and the face of the other head generally recessed or channeled. The 'match' in contour between the two faces thus varies during the pivoting of the one member with respect to the other, between a substantially complementary fit when the finger is flexed, to a 'loose' or 'wobble' fit when the finger is extended.

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First Claim