I know this technology has been out for over 5 years, but I've only heard of Dr. Aaron Filler in Los Angeles using it this past year. Funny thing is, when I asked my neurosurgeon about it over 3 years ago, before I had both sural nerves taken from my calves, he said it wasn't a trustworthy option and now in this article, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I guess I got injured a few years too early. At least I got some sexy scars out it all. And my doc brought my arm back to life (relatively) no matter how much I complain, so I won't complain.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/conws/3820562.html
April 26, 2006, 5:35AM
Integra Announces Increased Use of NeuraGen Nerve Guide in Complex Peripheral Nerve Injuries
PLAINSBORO, N.J., April 26, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq:IART) today announced that the NeuraGen(R) Nerve Guide is increasingly used in a wide variety of peripheral nerve repair applications. NeuraGen has been used successfully to repair peripheral nerves in the upper and lower extremities, cranial and facial nerves, and complex injuries involving the brachial plexus. The technology behind the NeuraGen Nerve Guide is based on a semi-permeable collagen tube that isolates and defines an environment for the extension of axons and growth of Schwann cells that are the elements responsible for functional recovery following nerve injury. Integra LifeSciences is featuring the NeuraGen Nerve Guide at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons meeting in San Francisco, California this week.
Integra has featured NeuraGen at many hand, orthopedic, neurosurgical and reconstructive meetings. Surgeon response to the product has been positive and use of the product has been growing in more complex nerve injuries, including brachial plexus.
Injury to the brachial plexus is a clinically compelling problem. It can be caused by traumatic injury in the broader population, and can also affect newborns (neonatal brachial plexus palsies). The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that control the muscles of the shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist, hand and fingers. Stretching, tearing, or other trauma can cause injury to the nerves of the brachial plexus. Brachial plexus injuries can result in full to partial paralysis of one or both arms. The incidence rate of brachial plexus palsies (BPP) in newborns has been estimated at upwards of 4 cases per 1,000 full-term births in the United States. As many as 25% of these injuries can result in permanent impairment of the child. NeuraGen has been used successfully in reconstruction of brachial plexus injuries, particularly for short-gap nerve injuries in adult patients as well as in obstetrical cases. In many situations NeuraGen eliminates the need to harvest a nerve graft from another location in the patient's body, which prevents complications at the harvest site such as loss of nerve function, compromised wound healing or infection.
"Reconstruction of injured peripheral nerves remains one of the most challenging areas of neurosurgery. The recent advent of nerve conduits represents one of the most significant technical advancements in nerve surgery and provides the surgeon with new treatment options that were not previously available," commented Robert Spinner, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Integra launched the NeuraGen Nerve Guide, its first collagen peripheral nerve repair conduit in 2001. NeuraGen is indicated for peripheral nerve repair in cases where a nerve is completely severed. Since 2001, well over 10,000 NeuraGen nerve guides have been implanted in patients worldwide. Physicians have responded favorably to NeuraGen, noting that their patients have achieved the return of neurological function without experiencing adverse wound reactions or neuroma formation. Integra estimates that the worldwide market for the repair of severed peripheral nerves is approximately $40 million.
NEWS: Artificial Nerve used for nerve grafts
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Christopher
- Posts: 845
- Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 10:09 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Date of Injury: 12/15/02
Level of Injury:
-dominant side C5, C6, & C7 avulsed. C8 & T1 stretched & crushed
BPI Related Surgeries:
-2 Intercostal nerves grafted to Biceps muscle,
-Free-Gracilis muscle transfer to Biceps Region innervated with 2 Intercostal nerves grafts.
-2 Sural nerves harvested from both Calves for nerve grafting.
-Partial Ulnar nerve grafted to Long Triceps.
-Uninjured C7 Hemi-Contralateral cross-over to Deltoid muscle.
-Wrist flexor tendon transfer to middle, ring, & pinky finger extensors.
Surgical medical facility:
Brachial Plexus Clinic at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN
(all surgeries successful)
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
~Theodore Roosevelt - Location: Los Angeles, California USA
-
Christopher
- Posts: 845
- Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 10:09 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Date of Injury: 12/15/02
Level of Injury:
-dominant side C5, C6, & C7 avulsed. C8 & T1 stretched & crushed
BPI Related Surgeries:
-2 Intercostal nerves grafted to Biceps muscle,
-Free-Gracilis muscle transfer to Biceps Region innervated with 2 Intercostal nerves grafts.
-2 Sural nerves harvested from both Calves for nerve grafting.
-Partial Ulnar nerve grafted to Long Triceps.
-Uninjured C7 Hemi-Contralateral cross-over to Deltoid muscle.
-Wrist flexor tendon transfer to middle, ring, & pinky finger extensors.
Surgical medical facility:
Brachial Plexus Clinic at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN
(all surgeries successful)
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
~Theodore Roosevelt - Location: Los Angeles, California USA
Re: NEWS: Artificial Nerve used for nerve grafts
Here's the NeuraGen Nerve Guide site for further reading and brochures if anyone out there needs to get themselves or their doctor interested or informed.
http://www.integra-ls.com/products/?product=96
http://www.integra-ls.com/products/?product=88
http://www.integra-ls.com/products/?product=96
http://www.integra-ls.com/products/?product=88