Electrophysiological And Imaging Outcomes Analysis In Patients With Peripheral Nerve Injury Treated With Biodegradable Conduit Small-Gap (2 Mm) Tubulization: A 5-Year Follow-Up

Despite progress in understanding the pathophysiology of peripheral nervous injury and regeneration, as well as advancements in different surgical techniques, peripheral nerve repair and functional reconstruction is still a major challenge for orthopedic surgeons. We proposed a new method to reconstruct peripheral nerve injury by using a new type of biodegradable biomaterial nerve tube. This tube is suited to maximize re-innervation of the regenerating proximal stump into the degenerating distal stump by providing a conduit for nerve guidance. The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the long-term follow-up outcomes of different nerve repair technologies (biodegradable conduit small-gap tubulization and traditional epineurial suture) for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury. The nerve functional recovery conditions and electrophysiological studies were carried out at the 3-, 6-, 24- and 60-month after first surgery. Imageological diagnosis was carried out at the 60th month of the follow-up. Reconstruction images and related data along the injured nerves were compared with normal sides and correlated with electrophysiological neurography results. Complications were also recorded. The results showed that the clinical recovery effect of the injured nerves treated with biodegradable conduit small-gap (2 mm) tubulization was better than that treated with traditional epineurial neurorrhaphy in early period in this 5-year follow-up. Thus we conclude that biodegradable small-gap (2 mm) tubulization is an effective procedure in peripheral nerve injury treatment with an early good functional outcome, and presents potentially groundbreaking possibilities to help guide peripheral nerve reconstruction after injury in the future.