A British arthritis sufferer has his knuckles replaced with new ones
made from material used to line nuclear reactors.

The material, called Pyrocarbon, has also been used in the construction of
space shuttles but is now being increasingly favoured by surgeons to replace
diseased and worn-out human joints.

Roy Carter used to suffer badly with arthritis in his hands.

Now the retired British postman is game for anything after his damaged
knuckles were replaced with ones made from a similar material used to line
atomic reactors.

Roy Carter saying:
"I play a lot of table tennis, I can still do DIY, I drive a car
for the ambulance service, you name it."

Carter's new knuckles are made from pyrocarbon.

It's as hard as diamonds but can be carved to exactly the right shape for
joint replacement.

It's also as flexible as bone but doesn't cause allergic reactions so it
won't be rejected by the body.

Surgeon David Warwick says it's a big step forward for hand surgery.

David Warwick, consultant surgeon, Southampton Hospital, saying:
"Hips and knees have been replaced by orthopaedic surgeons for 30
or 40 years now and the present results are excellent and hand surgery is a
little bit behind but we now have new designs and new technologies coming
through that allow us to replace worn-out joints in the wrist and hand with
quite good, optimistic results."

Roy Carter, one of the first people in Britain to have the knuckle
replacement surgery, says he's delighted the nuclear industry was able to give
a helping hand.

Paul Chapman, Reuters