News World’s first implant of a KeriFlex finger joint prosthesis
On 19 January, the world’s first implant of a KeriFlex finger prosthesis was performed at Schulthess Klinik. Dr. med. Daniel Herren MHA, our Head of Hand Surgery, assisted with the development of this prosthesis for patients experiencing painful deterioration of their proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints as the result of accident or illness.
The KeriFlex finger joint prosthesis is a further development of an existing silicone implant and offers enhanced mechanical properties as well as an optimised fit when compared to its predecessor. This should make artificial joint replacement even more precise, even when using silicone, and hopefully further improve long-term results following surgery.
Our Head of Hand Surgery, Dr. med. Daniel Herren MHA, developed this finger joint prosthesis, as well as the surgical techniques and instruments required to perform the operation, in partnership with his friend and colleague Dr Peter Weiss of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. The KeriFlex prosthesis is based on a previous model from KeriMedical. Doctors Daniel Herren and Peter Weiss are convinced that, with this further development in the design of the prosthesis and instruments, they have introduced a further improvement on the implants already on the market.
The world’s first operation to implant a KeriFlex prosthesis was duly performed by Dr. med. univ. Vanessa Reischenböck at Schulthess Klinik on 19 January 2021. The prosthesis was granted CE certification in December 2020 and is now being marketed across the continent. It is currently undergoing the process required for approval in the US.
Right: KeriFlex implant on the model as placeholder and proximal interphalangeal joint replacement
