Mark Lippert, the U.S. ambassador to Korea, recently posted a picture on Facebook of the device he’s using to help recuperate from injuries sustained to his left hand and arm, a robotic-looking contraption that has generated considerable media attention both domestically and abroad. (image: Facebook photo of Mark Lippert)
SEOUL, April 7 (Korea Bizwire) – It looks exactly like a prop from a sci-fi movie, but in reality, it’s nothing more than a custom-designed splint.
Mark Lippert, the U.S. ambassador to Korea, recently posted a picture on Facebook of the device he’s using to help recuperate from injuries sustained to his left hand and arm, a robotic-looking contraption that has generated considerable media attention both domestically and abroad.
In March, Ambassador Lippert was assaulted by a leftist Korean, who cut his face and his left hand with a large knife. He suffered two ruptured tendons in his left hand and was operated on to inosculate the tendons. Now, he’s wearing a special dynamic hand splint to immobilize his wrist and support his fingers.
The custom made hand splint includes a wrist brace and metal rods that stick out over the back of each of his fingers, and attach via little elastic bands. It looks like a robot, but it only serves to hold his fingers in place.
Lippert said, “It is an amazing apparatus, so innovative and creative. It is very comfortable and has made a huge difference in my recovery as I am able to hold things in my hand.”
Officials from Severance Hospital, which has been tasked with Ambassador Lippert’s care, expect that the hand splint will be removed in around a week, and the ambassador will move on to rehabilitation. However, as the recovery of finger nerves is important, Lippert will have to endure up to 12 months of rehabilitation treatment.
Lee Jin-woo, an orthopedic surgeon at the hospital said, “People call it as robot hand as it looks like a robot. The dynamic hand splint will help cure Lippert’s nerves and tendons.”
By John Choi (johnchoi@koreabizwire.com)
