News JHSE Editors' Award goes to a study of our hand surgery for the second time in a row
A study of our hand surgery has won the 2020 JHSE Editors' Award. This prestigious prize, which is conferred by the Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), went to our team for the second time in a row.
The award-winning study deals with the use of the CapFlex prosthesis, which is used to treat osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joint, and was developed at Schulthess Klinik. Specifically, our team used data from 100 patients to investigate the effect of the incision made as an entry point for surgery on finger function. The following three surgical approaches were evaluated: an incision made underneath the joint, an incision made on top of the joint using the Chamay technique and an incision made on top of the joint using the central tendon-splitting approach. Central tendon-splitting involves entering on the extension side above the middle joint, splitting the tendon centrally and prising it apart. At the end of the operation, the split tendon halves are sewn back together.
The tendon-splitting technique offers the best chance of success with the CapFlex prosthesis.
Results after two years showed that patients operated on using the central tendon-splitting approach experienced fewer complications and tended to have better finger function. This is why we now only use the central tendon-splitting approach for CapFlex surgery, wherever possible.
The Journal of Hand Surgery ( European Volume) is the world's most prestigious medical journal focusing on hand surgery. The articles submitted are subject to a rigorous peer-review process, which means that the quality of the scientific work is assessed by several independent experts. Not even one fifth of the articles that are submitted to the journal for publication are actually published. The 2020 Editors’ Award honours the journal’s top eight articles from the past year.
We would like to congratulate Dr Daniel Herren, Dr Stephan Schindele and Dr Miriam Marks on achieving this award, as well as two former Schulthess Klinik employees – Dr Elvira Bodmer (first author) and Stefanie Hensler.
The award-winning study was also the basis for the Capflex prosthesis now also receiving market approval for Australia.
