Reconstruction of Proper Digital Nerve Defects in the Thumb Using a Pedicled Nerve Graft

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01528397

Enrollment

Registered

2012-02-08

Start date

2005-05-31

Completion date

2010-05-31

Last updated

2012-02-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Nerve Injury

Keywords

defect, dorsal branch of the proper digital nerve, proper digital nerve, second dorsal metacarpal artery, pedicled nerve graft.

Brief summary

A proper digital nerve (PDN) defect in the thumb can produce partial or complete sensory loss which can result in functional disability. This article reports the treatment of the thumb PDN defect using a pedicled nerve graft harvested from the dorsal branch of the PDN. Fourteen patients with the thumb PDN defect underwent a new surgical procedure in which the pedicled nerve graft was used to bridge nerve defect. For comparison, the investigators also collected a consecutive series of 21 patients with thumb PDN defects treated using a nonvascularized sural nerve graft. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of pedicled nerve grafting for PDN defects in the thumb.

Detailed description

At final follow-up, the investigators measured the sensibility of the thumb pulps and the donor sites using the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test and static 2-point discrimination (2PD) test. The test points were at the centers of the radial and ulnar portions of the thumb pulp and the donor sites separately. Each area was tested 3 times with a Dellon-Mackinnon discriminator. Two out of 3 correct answers were considered proof of perception before proceeding to another lower value.

Interventions

PROCEDUREpedicled nerve graft

A pedicled nerve graft harvested from the dorsal branch of the PDN can be used for reconstruction of such defects. The graft is based on the second dorsal metacarpal artery.

Study design

Allocation

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

15 Years to 60 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. thumb PDN defects between the middle of the distal phalanx and the metacarpophalangeal joint; 2. PDN defects of single or both sides; 3. PDN defects 1-4 cm in length.

Exclusion criteria

1. injury to the course of the pedicle or the donor sites; 2. PDN defects less than 1 cm or longer than 4 cm; 3. no Doppler sound at the location of the second dorsal metacarpal artery (SDMA).

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
static 2-point discrimination (2PD) test	22 months	The test points were at the centers of the radial and ulnar portions of the thumb pulp and the donor sites separately. Each area was tested 3 times with a Dellon-Mackinnon discriminator. Two out of 3 correct answers were considered proof of perception before proceeding to another lower value.

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026