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This concise but comprehensive book is the first volume devoted to the applications of biomaterials in hand surgery. It presents basic knowledge in the field of biomaterials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, implant design, and hand joint prostheses, and explores in depth the key topic of metacarpophalangeal joint prostheses in rheumatoid patients.

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Biomaterials are used in many areas of medicine, particularly in surgery and d- tistry. In orthopedic surgery, total hip arthroplasty has been extremely successful, and has been called ´the operation of the 20th century´. Total hip arthroplasty is r- tinely performed every day in most orthopedic departments. Over the last decades, many efforts have been made to better integrate the components within the recipient bones, to decrease the friction at the prosthetic interface, and to minimize wear. Minimally invasive procedures have been developed, and various designs are inte- ed to preserve as much as possible of the bone stock of young patients. By contrast, the clinical results have been less favorable after various hand and wrist joint replacements. Many early designs have failed, the clinical data of the current pr- theses are frequently quite limited, and there is often insufficient biomechanical information available, although trapezio-metacarpal arthroplasty in particular has become quite popular in recent years. In order to promote progress in hand and wrist arthroplasty, Antonio Merolli and Thomas J. Joyce have edited this lovely book, whose chapters discuss current research and recent advances in hand and wrist arthroplasty. The problems of metacarpophalangeal joint prostheses are particularly developed.

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Fundamentals of Biomaterials.- Potential Applications of Tissue Engineering in Hand Surgery.- The Finite Element Method for the Design of Biomedical Devices.- Prostheses for the Joints of the Hand.- Causes of Failure in Flexible Metacarpophalangeal Prostheses.- Prosthetic Surgery of Metacarpophalangeal Joints in Rheumatoid Patients: An Open Problem.- Requirements for a Metacarpophalangeal Joint Prosthesis for Rheumatoid Patients and Suggestions for Design.- Research Trends for Flexor Tendon Repair.- Peripheral Nerve Regeneration by Artificial Nerve Guides.

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