CoNNECT: A study of sutureless nerve repair
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN97234566 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN97234566 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | 209856 |
| Sponsor | University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust |
| Funder | Polyganics |
- Submission date
- 24/07/2018
- Registration date
- 04/02/2019
- Last edited
- 11/11/2024
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Surgery
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
There are approximately 300,000 cases of traumatic nerve injuries in the hand per year in Europe. Current methods of nerve repair have limited benefits - approximately 33% of patients with a traumatic nerve injury do not regain useful sensitivity of the finger. A nerve injury is repaired by joining the two cut ends of the nerve with stitches using a microscope. Recently, there has been published data suggesting that a nerve conduit (a flexible tube used to bridge between the two ends of a cut nerve) may protect a repaired nerve and reduce scar formation at the site of repair. The aim of this study is to find out which of the three methods of nerve repair provides the best results and provide a lower rate of complications from the surgery. The current gold standard is stitching injured nerve ends directly together. The other methods are stitching nerve ends directly together and placing a nerve conduit around it, or placing the injured nerve ends together without stitches and using the nerve conduit to maintain their position and heal
Who can participate?
Patients aged 16-75 with a traumatic complete digital nerve injury between the wrist and middle of the affected finger that is less than 10 days old
What does the study involve?
Patients will be randomly allocated a treatment method, decided by a computer programme. Only the surgical team will know which method is being used. The patient and hand therapists involved will not be told. The treatment methods are the following:
1. Stitching injured nerve ends directly together.
2. Stitching nerve ends directly together and placing a nerve conduit around it
3. Placing the injured nerve ends together without stitches and using the nerve conduit to maintain their position and heal
Patients will be asked to fill in a short pre-operative questionnaire. Following the operation, patients will need to attend follow up appointments at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months and 1 year. We will ask patients to complete a questionnaire regarding their hand function, and we will assess the sensation in the hand.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
We believe this new technique can lead to better healing of the nerve and therefore improve sensation in the affected finger.
Regardless of which method of repair the patient receives, they will have thorough follow up care. However, there is a small risk of infection as we are inserting a foreign device (conduit) into the body. Additionally, the wound may breakdown and require further surgery, and there is a rare risk of allergic reaction.
Where is the study run from?
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (UK) (secondary sites currently being sought)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2017 to July 2025.
Who is funding the study?
Polyganics (Netherlands)
Who is the main contact?
Dominic Power
dominic.power@uhb.nhs.uk
Contact information
Scientific
HaPPeN Research Team
Institute of Translational Medicine
Heritage Building
Mindelsohn Way
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2WB
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-1600-6418 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 01213714992 |
| dominic.power@uhb.nhs.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Interventional three-arm randomised controlled trial powered for equivalence |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Conduit Nerve approximation versus Neurorraphy Evaluation of Clinical outcomes Trial |
| Study acronym | CoNNECT |
| Study objectives | There is no difference in functional outcomes with microscopic neurorraphy, neurorraphy with a conduit as a wrap and a conduit alone bridge across the co-aptation site without sutures in the nerve ends. |
| Ethics approval(s) | West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee, 28/02/2017, REC reference: 17/WM/0009, IRAS project ID: 209856 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Acute digital nerve transection injury in the hand |
| Intervention | The study will enrol participants with traumatic injuries to the digital or common digital nerves within the hand and randomisation in a 1:1:1 ratio for each nerve injury. They will be stratified according to the age group. The power analysis estimates 62 nerves recruited to each group to demonstrate equivalence. 240 nerves will be recruited to allow a drop out of 30% with the modified Weber scale as a primary outcome measure of sensory recovery using static and moving two point discrimination at 12 months. Each group will receive a different form of microsurgical repair: 1. Direct microsurgical suture 2. Suture with nerve conduits augmentation 3. Nerve conduits apposition with remote suture distal to the injury site |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Neurolac conduit |
| Primary outcome measure(s) | Sensory recovery using static and moving two-point discrimination (tactile gnosis) for each repaired nerve. The comparable area on the opposite hand will be tested for static and moving two-point discrimination to act as a baseline for assessment of recovery. These measurements will allow the modified Weber score to be calculated. This will be assessed at weeks 2, 6, 12, 26 and 52. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) | The following will be assessed at weeks 2, 6, 12, 26 and 52: 1. Monofilament pressure thresholds (innervation density), assessed using the WEST Monofilaments 2. Upper extremity disability and symptoms, assessed using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score 3. Self-rated health, assessed using the EQ-5D 4. Nerve irritation, assessed using differential Tinel's sign 5. Pain, assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) 6. Cold intolerance, assessed using a VAS 7. Hyperaesthesia, assessed using a VAS 8. Site of repair, measured in mm from the hyponychium of the same digit (the duration of each repair will be recorded) 9. For suture repairs, the quality of the repair will be recorded using the visual grading scale for suture-only nerve repair 10. For common digital nerve repair, the outcome for each digital nerve territory will be recorded |
| Completion date | 01/07/2025 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 16 Years |
| Upper age limit | 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 300 |
| Total final enrolment | 240 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Pre-operative inclusion criteria: 1. Age between 16-75 years 2. Traumatic lesion less than 10 days old 3. Clinical suspicion of a complete traumatic nerve lesion to a sensory nerve between the distal flexor retinaculum and the midpoint of the middle phalanx 4. Ability to consent to the trial and comply with the follow up regime. Intra-operative inclusion criteria: 1. Verification of a complete traumatic lesion of a sensory nerve 2. Nerve amenable to suture directly without excessive flexion of digit (MCPJ and PIPJ positioning less than 30 degrees of flexion) |
| Key exclusion criteria | Pre-operative exclusion criteria: 1. Wound infection 2. Traumatic amputation 3. Previous history of injury to the nerves in the injured digit 4. Patients diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy 5. Participation in other trials Intra-operative exclusion criteria: 1. Nerve gap due to segmental loss requiring a graft or conduit 2. Double level injury to the same nerve 3. Severe contamination necessitating a further surgical procedure prior to closure |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/07/2017 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/10/2023 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre
Institute of Translational Medicine
Heritage Building
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Mindelsohn Way
Edgbaston
Brmingham
B15 2WB
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | The data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
11/11/2024: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The total final enrolment was added.
2. The publication and dissemination plan was updated.
17/01/2023: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall end date was changed from 01/01/2023 to 01/07/2025.
2. The recruitment end date was changed from 01/07/2021 to 01/10/2023.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/12/2023 to 01/12/2026.
4. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
09/08/2021: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall end date was changed from 01/01/2022 to 01/01/2023.
2. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/06/2022 to 01/12/2023.
3. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
05/10/2020: The recruitment resumed.
05/08/2020: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 01/07/2020 to 01/07/2021.
2. The overall end date was changed from 01/01/2021 to 01/01/2022.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/06/2021 to 01/06/2022.
4. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
04/05/2020: Due to current public health guidance, recruitment for this study has been paused.
03/05/2019: Publication and dissemination plan updated and intention to publish date changed from 30/11/2018 to 01/06/2021.
05/02/2019: The scientific contact added their ORCID ID number.
