| Description |
Digital nerve damage in humans is common and can lead to loss of function in the hand if unrepaired. If the nerve is repaired, the proximal end will regenerate and innervate the distal stump, but axons must be properly guided. Traditional repair involves suturing the ends of the nerve together which can lead to scar tissue and foreign body reactions at the site of the suture, as well as allow fibroblasts to enter the nerve growth site. Tubulization (placing the cut ends of the nerve in a tube and suturing the tube to each end) avoids these problems, but materials previously tested for use in tubes have been non-biodegradable and impermeable, leading to adverse tissue reactions, compression, and possibly further nerve damage. Collagen and fibrin tubes are not only reabsorbable but provide a favorable substrate for nerve growth. Animal studies have shown that these tubes produce functional recovery at least as well as suturing. This study examines whether nerves repaired with tubes in humans will produce better recovery than nerves repaired by suturing. The hypothesis of this research is that patients with transected (cut) digital nerves, repaired by collagen-fibrin tubulization, will have faster or more complete return of sensation than the patients with similar injuries, repaired by suturing. |
