Polyethylene Glycol to Improve Sensation Following Digital Nerve Laceration
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2022-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
PEG is a fusogen, a type of chemical that aids in mediating cell fusion. PEG helps nerve
cells recover neuronal continuity by removing plasmalemmal-bound water which opens the axonal
ends on both sides of the injury. Opening axonal ends permits the nerve ends to reconnect and
begin regeneration. PEG has been tested on animal models extensively and in earthworm models
has been shown to induce fusion rates in 80-100% of neuronal cells. In crushed or severed
mammalian sciatic nerves PEG has enhanced neuronal continuity to baseline functioning levels.
Human applications for PEG have been tested by Bamba and colleagues in a case series with
encouraging results. No studies, to our knowledge, have prospectively examined the use of PEG
in peripheral nerve injuries. We propose a placebo controlled, double-blinded randomized
controlled trial to test the hypothesis that local PEG administration can enhance sensory
nerve regeneration following digital nerve transection compared to surgery alone.