"新技術可望取代石膏"

一名外科醫生發現一個方法，用內部裝置來支撐受傷的韌帶。

在蘇格蘭的一名外科醫生想出一個突破的新技術，有一天可見石膏模型被永遠丟到廢物堆。戈登麥凱教授研究這個方法因為打石膏的缺點，包含肌肉萎縮和整體不便。有了新的技術，醫生可以用微創手術來嵌入支架支撐受傷的韌帶。

說起這項突破，麥凱說：「我想任何試過要把棒針放進石膏裡掏癢的人就可以了解……（石膏）極度不舒服。」除了提供一個更舒服的復原方法外，內部的支架也可以讓復原時間縮短，關節也不會動彈不得。

麥凱的方法吸引了運動員的注意，因為他們經常需要快速回去受訓。麥凱現在和美國斯特德曼診所的醫生合作，他們過去曾和運動員一起合作。評論到支架的好處，麥凱說：「在這裡我們有內部的支架可以避免肌肉拉扯，不過還是可以讓關節適度活動。」這就表示肌肉萎縮不再是個問題。

(Health) New Technique Might Replace the Cast

A surgeon has found a way to support injured ligaments with an internal device.

A surgeon in Scotland has come up with a groundbreaking new technique that could one day see plaster casts permanently banished to the scrap heap. Professor Gordon Mackay researched the method because of drawbacks of wearing a cast, which include muscle-wasting and general inconvenience. With this new technique, doctors would use keyhole surgery to insert a brace to support wounded ligaments.

Speaking about the breakthrough, Mackay said: I think anyone who's had the experience of trying to put a knitting needle down the cast to get to an itch will realize that a K cast is extremely unpleasant. Apart from offering a more pleasant recovery, the internal brace allows for shorter recovery times and means that the joint is not immobilized.

Mackays method is attracting the attention of athletes, as they often need to get back into training as quickly as possible. Mackay is now working with doctors at the Steadman Clinic in the US, which has a track record for working with sportspeople. Commenting on the benefits of the brace, Mackay said: Here we have an internal brace which prevents the tissues from stretching but still allows you to mobilize the joint with some confidence. This will mean that muscle-wasting wont be as much of a problem.

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