Abstract
Nerve conduits have emerged as alternatives to autologous nerve grafts, but their use in large-diameter nerve deficits remains untested. We report four patients who underwent repair of large-diameter nerves using absorbable nerve conduits and discuss the failed clinical outcomes. The reported cases demonstrate the importance of evaluating the length, diameter, and function of nerves undergoing conduit repair. In large-diameter nerves, the use of conduits should be carefully considered.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Daniel A. Hunter R.A. for the histology images provided in this manuscript.
Conflicts of interest
The senior author is codeveloper of the polyglycolic acid conduit (Synovis Micro Companies Alliance, Birmingham, AL, USA), which was used in one of the cases in this report. Our laboratory has also received research funding from Axogen (Alachua, FL, USA) for a study involving processed allografts. This product was not used in these clinical cases, but is marketed as an alternative to autografting and conduit use.
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Moore, A.M., Kasukurthi, R., Magill, C.K. et al. Limitations of Conduits in Peripheral Nerve Repairs. HAND 4, 180–186 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-008-9158-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-008-9158-3