Woman Receives Brand New Thumb Joint, Sort Of

This video clip, posted on the New York local ABC affiliate website, discusses the common condition of thumb arthritis and highlights a reconstructive surgery procedure that offers some patients relief and allows them to use their thumbs normally.

The clip is narrated by Dr. Jay Adlersberg and follows the case of a woman, Sheri Peacock, with painful osteoarthritis of the thumb. The pain kept her out of the kitchen, unable to grasp common tools without pain. The cartilage in her first thumb joint was destroyed.

The ligament reconstruction surgery was performed by Dr. Stephen Trigg at the Mayo Clinic. Trigg removed part of the thumb joint. The wrist flexor tendon was also removed and interposed between the bone surfaces, which constructed a new thumb joint.

Check out the full video and watch the results.