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. <br />Three men who lost the use of their hands have been given bionic replacements activated by brain signals, it emerged yesterday. <br />A world first, the surgical technique restored function to limbs left almost useless by climbing and car accidents. <br />And it brings hope to other patients who have suffered traumatic injuries or are born with defects. <br />The bionic transplants involved men who sustained severe damage to nerves in the neck that control movement and sensation in the arms. <br />Despite conventional surgery, they ended up with no useful hand function and became candidates for the new technique. <br />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. <br />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. <br />Following comprehensive rehabilitation, the technique restored a high level of hand function, reveals a report in The Lancet medical journal.
