A prospective clinical evaluation of biodegradable neurolac nerve guides for sensory nerve repair in the hand.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to study the recovery of sensory nerve function after treatment of traumatic peripheral nerve lesions with a biodegradable poly(DL-lactide-epsilon-caprolactone) Neurolac nerve guide (Polyganics B.V., Groningen, the Netherlands) versus the current standard reconstruction techniques.

METHODS: Thirty patients with 34 nerve lesions were included in this randomized, multicenter trial.

RESULTS: Both groups were comparable considering their demographics. After a small learning curve the nerve guide could be implanted easily. There were more complications in the experimental group but none of them was directly device related. Recovery of sensibility in the nerve guide group was at least as good as in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the Neurolac nerve guide is suitable for the repair of transected peripheral nerves in the hand.