NEON - digital NErve, suture Or Not
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised controlled trial assessing if microsurgical nerve repair offers clinical benefit and cost effectiveness (in terms of patient–reported hand function, sensory recovery and adverse events) over exploration and washout without microsurgical nerve repair in adult patients with recent traumatic digital nerve injury.
IRAS ID
258872
Contact name
Abhilash Jain
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford Clinical Trials and Research Governance
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN16211574
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 1 months, 30 days
Research summary
Digital nerves are small nerves that pass along the side of each finger and provide sensation to the fingertips. These nerves can be accidentally cut when handling sharp objects like a knife or broken glass. The NEON study aims to find out whether sewing the ends of the cut nerve surgically is beneficial or even needed. Thoroughly cleaning the cut wound before closing the skin is a much simpler procedure, and may be satisfactory for patients.\n\nThere is some evidence that both treatments give good results. There is also some evidence that patients may not fully recover the feeling in their injured finger, even after the nerve has been sutured. Research so far has been conflicting and is of varying quality. For example, some studies do not directly compare treatments, or do not ask patients about their views of recovery.\n\nThe best way to find out if stitching the cut digital nerve is appropriate is to conduct a research study. NEON will compare surgical procedures for digital nerve repair, with or without stitches (also known as sutures). 478 patients with a single digital nerve injury will have one of these two treatment options by random allocation. \n\nPatients will complete questionnaires measuring fingertip sensation, quality of life and health resource use up to 12 months after the operation. They will also attend clinic visits at 3 and 12 months. Longer term follow up (12-24 months after randomisation) to determine re-operation rates will be collected using routine hospital data.\n
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0018
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion