A Phase I Trial of a Novel Synthetic Polymer Nerve Conduit 'Polynerve' in Participants With Sensory Digital Nerve Injury

Peripheral nerve injuries are a common occurrence, with approximately 9000 cases in the United Kingdom (UK) occurring each year. Most are in a predominantly young and working population. Where surgical reconstruction is required to repair the peripheral nerve injury, techniques employed have changed little in the last 50-60 years with many factors influencing the outcomes, such as age of patient, timing, level and extent of injury, method of repair and the surgeon's skill .

Despite advances in microsurgical nerve repair techniques, functional recovery is often poor e.g. resulting impaired hand sensation, reduced motor function and frequent pain and cold intolerance. This can have a profound and permanent impact on the patient's recovery and subsequent quality of life. Nerve repair has significant health, social and cost implications with the treatment and rehabilitation of an employed person, estimated to be EUR 51,238.

Peripheral nerve injury usually presents with nerve stumps that can be approximated in surgical repair: direct, end-to-end suture repair of the epineurium (neurorrhaphy). Excessive tension over the suture line leads to poor results; therefore when the nerve stumps cannot be approximated without tension, an alternative surgical method is required.

Where the nerve gap exceeds more than 5 mm, there are two fundamental options, either 'nerve grafting' or 'tubulisation' using a bridging material. This trial will examine the first-in-man use of a new nerve conduit device 'Polynerve' to repair small nerve gaps in digital sensory nerves of the hand. Polynerve is a degradable co-polymer of Poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) and Poly (L-lactic acid) (PLA) which is shaped as a cylinder with a novel internal lumen consisting of a specific micro-grooved architecture.

Inclusion criteria

• Provision of informed consent prior to any trial specific procedures
• Traumatic injury/injuries to the hand with clinical suspicion of sensory nerve transection mandating surgical exploration
• Male and females aged 18-80

Exclusion criteria

• Concomitant injuries requiring surgical treatment from other specialists
• Specified co-morbidities that would increase a participants risk of infection including diabetes, renal/liver disease, autoimmune diseases, primary or secondary immunocompromised participants (including immunosuppressive drugs or known disease resulting in suppressed immunity)
• A stated hypersensitivity or allergy to the polymers PCL/PLA
• Any other significant co-morbidity impacting on the risk of surgery (to be determined by the multi-disciplinary team (MDT))
• Known to have participated in a clinical trial of an investigational agent or device in the previous 30 days.