Yorkshire nurse back at work thanks to her bionic arm

Liz Wright, who had her right arm amputated because of a genetic condition, is the only working nurse in the country with the hi-tech prosthetic.

The staff nurse at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield was keen to get back to her role as soon as she could.

She said: “This has allowed me to continue in a job I am passionate about and as far I am aware, I am the only working nurse with a bionic arm. It is fantastic to be back in my uniform.”

Ms Wright suffers from Madelung’s deformity, a rare genetic condition causing pain in her arms and wrists, and which has meant she has had to wear plaster casts to support her arm for over 30 years.

Over the last few years, the 43-year-old had been experiencing increasing pain and other symptoms which eventually led her to give up work.

At this point, with the support of specialists from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, she made the difficult decision to have her right arm amputated.

The surgery took place at the Northern General Hospital’s Sheffield Hand Centre, a purpose-built unit with a team specialising in orthopaedics and plastic surgery who can treat hand disorders and injuries.

After the operation, Ms Wright was desperate to return to her nursing job and went back to work 10 weeks later, using a cosmetic arm.

However, she then found that her left arm was getting very tired because she was carrying out tasks with one hand.

Experts tackled the problem by fitting her with an anatomically accurate bionic hand, which is designed to provide the most true-to-life movements and means Ms Wright can perform tasks with her prosthetic hand.

With the help of staff at Mobility and Rehabilitation Unit, she returned to work as a staff nurse in the pre-operative assessment unit at the same hospital where she was treated.

Ms Wright said: “I can’t praise the Hand Centre and Mobility and Rehabilitation Unit enough for the excellent work they have done with my amputation, my bionic arm and ultimately getting me back to work which has always been my main aim.”

Dr Ramesh Munjal, consultant in specialised mobility and rehabilitation at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said she had always had the goal to go back to her job.

“I saw Liz for a pre-amputation consultation and was really impressed with her enthusiasm to work again. “Due to the severe pain and deformity resulting from her condition, I advised that she may be able to achieve this using the bionic arm after amputation.

“The bionic hand works by using sensors which are triggered by muscle movements that connect to each finger and mimics the functions of a real hand. This allows Liz to manage day to day tasks without overworking her left hand.”

Meg Birks, orthopaedic hand surgeon at the Sheffield Hand Centre, added: “Liz has recovered amazingly well, she is much better in herself and getting back to a life she can enjoy.”

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has carried out several hand transplants and was last year designated England’s specialist centre for the procedure.