Health: Digitally reworked

Vital Signs

A Cleveland pensioner yesterday became the first woman to receive an artificial finger joint in an operation which, it is hoped, will help overcome the pain and misery of arthritis in the fingers.

The new joint, developed at the University of Durham and funded by the charity Action Research, is an improvement on existing artificial joints in allowing greater movement and improved grip strength. It relies on the natural ligaments for stability and acts as a shield for the bone beneath.

Anne Luther, of Action Research, said: "We shall soon know how successful the operation is. We hope that this new finger joint will be as successful at relieving pain and increasing dexterity as the artificial hip has been to millions of people worldwide."