Dynamic Orthopaedic Implants

Biosynthetic Thumb Prosthesis

In cases of severe damage to the extremities, the function and structure of compromised tissues must be replaced. If biological reconstruction using autologous tissue is not feasible, amputation and replacement with a synthetic prosthesis is often the next best option. Currently, the synthetic materials available for prostheses are limited, especially in their ability to restore skin sensation. Through this research, we show a biosynthetic prosthesis that combines the versatility of titanium with the rich sensory capabilities of biological skin, to restore movement and sensation to an amputated thumb. The prosthesis restores opposition pinch by linking motion of the prosthetic joint to that of the residual biological joint. The device is enclosed in innervated skin from the patient’s own body, providing natural sensation. In our work, we validated the biosynthetic thumb’s ability to reproduce opposition pinch on the benchtop and in a cadaver, and showed in vivo viability of the skin interface in an animal model. These results provide a framework for functional reconstruction of amputated digits using a combination of synthetic materials and biological tissues.

• Project Lead: Sachi Bansal
• Surgical Collaborators: Drs. Lauren Wessel, Kodi Azari, and Brian Zukotynski (Orthopaedic Surgery, UCLA), Dr. Nirbhay Jain (Plastic Surgery, UCLA)
• Project Team: Gracia V. Lai, Marcus Belingheri, Amber Q. Kashay, Jinyoung Kim, Alyssa Tomkinson, Samantha Herman, Keval Bollavaram