Scientists from the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice have developed a prosthesis with an internal scaffold to regenerate a peripheral nerve damaged as a result of an injury, e.g. a leg or an arm.
“At the moment, we are testing this prosthesis on animals, and it is ultimately intended to supply such cavities in humans” – said Dr. Adam Właszczuk from the Department of Physiology of the Medical University of Warsaw on Tuesday.
As he explained, when a nerve is damaged over a longer distance, its natural regeneration processes are often disturbed. For example, neuromas develop, the patient experiences pain, and does not regain full power in the limb.
«We are trying to implant tunnels in place of the damage, in which there is a scaffolding made of biodegradable fibers made of chitin, shellfish shells or fungi – and a polymer sheath used to make absorbable surgical sutures. We use these materials to build a tunnel that helps these nerves overgrow and meet the second episode »- explained Dr. Właszczuk.
In the case of damage to the peripheral nerve, doctors also use the patient’s own nerves, taken from another part of the body, to regenerate it, where such a collection will cause relatively the least loss. “However, it always involves some mutilation of the patient” – emphasized the scientist.
The prosthesis was presented at the scientists networking meeting on Tuesday under the slogan “A Billion in the Patent”, held at SUM.