title: Reconstruction of digital nerves with collagen conduits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Digital nerve reconstruction with a biodegradable conduit offers the advantage of providing nerve reconstruction while providing a desirable environment for nerve regeneration. Many conduit materials have been investigated, but there have been few reports of human clinical trials of purified type I bovine collagen conduits.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a prospective study of 22 isolated digital nerve lacerations in 19 patients reconstructed with a bioabsorbable collagen conduit. The average nerve gap measured 12 mm. An independent observer performed the postoperative evaluation, noting the return of protective sensation, static 2-point discrimination, and moving 2-point discrimination, and recording the patient's pain level using a visual analog scale. Minimal follow-up was 12 months and mean follow-up was 20 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients recovered protective sensation. The mean moving 2-point discrimination and static 2-point discrimination measured 5.0 and 5.2 mm, respectively, for those with measurable recovery at final follow-up visit. Excellent results were achieved in 13 of 22 digits, good results in 3 of 22 digits, and fair results in 6 of 22 digits, and there were no poor results. Reported pain scores at the last postoperative visit were measured universally as 0 on the visual analog scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that collagen conduits offer an effective method of reconstruction for digital nerve lacerations. This study confirms that collagen conduits reliably provide a repair that restores nerve function for nerve gaps measuring less than 2 cm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Hand Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. jstaras@handcenters.com
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Taras
authors.forename: Sidney M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jacoby
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lincoski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003094:Collagen; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen