title: Recovery of mechanical detection thresholds after direct digital nerve repair versus conduit implantation.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess sensory and functional nerve recovery after digital nerve injury in patients with an end-to-end suture (S) or with implantation of a collagen conduit (C) to bridge a nerve gap. Fifteen S and 11 C with a follow-up of 6-36 months and 28 healthy control participants were enrolled. Methods of assessments were quantitative sensory testing, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH), range of motion and the painDetect questionnaire. After both procedures, sensory profiles showed largely recovered function of C and Aδ fibres but severe loss of Aβ-fibre function leading to increased mechanical detection thresholds. There was only minimal allodynia. Severe pain was absent. Patients with conduits reported more functional impairment, especially in work performance, which correlated with the assessed loss of Aß-fibre function.
  
  
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authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pain Management, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pain Management, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pain Management, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany.|3 Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mainka
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany.|4 Division of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mannil
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pain Management, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vollert
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: H-H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Homann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003094:Collagen; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013536:Suture Techniques; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen
keywords: Nerve conduit; digital nerve injury; nerve recovery; quantitative sensory testing; somatosensory profiles