In a world first, an Austrian man has had his useless hand amputated and replaced with a robotic prosthetic which can be controlled by his brain.
Three men who lost the use of their hands have been given bionic replacements activated by brain signals, it emerged yesterday.
A world first, the surgical technique restored function to limbs left almost useless by climbing and car accidents.
And it brings hope to other patients who have suffered traumatic injuries or are born with defects.
The bionic transplants involved men who sustained severe damage to nerves in the neck that control movement and sensation in the arms.
Despite conventional surgery, they ended up with no useful hand function and became candidates for the new technique.
First, feeling is restored to the forearm by transplanting some muscle and nerve tissue into the arm – usually from the leg. This boosts the electrical signals from the brain to the arm.
Next, the affected hand is amputated to make way for a robotic prosthesis. Sensors in the new hand respond to the electrical impulses from the brain, allowing the patient to carry out normal activities.
Following comprehensive rehabilitation, the technique restored a high level of hand function, reveals a report in The Lancet medical journal.
