Targeted Reinnervation for Neuromas as a Means to Improve Prosthesis Control in Major Limb Amputation

NCT02316262 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: TR Prosthetic Control
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 33
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 6

Brief Summary

Subjects are being asked to participate in this study because they have an arm or leg amputation and have developed pain related to a neuroma (an ongoing localized pain related to a cut nerve ending). The investigators are studying how targeted reinnervation (TR) helps to both treat neuroma pain and to have increased prosthetic control. This surgery connects these cut nerve endings to nerves going into nearby nonfunctional muscles. This surgery was developed to allow amputees to have better prosthesis control. By chance, neuroma pain improved significantly with TR. The investigators, therefore, are conducting this clinical trial. The investigators will ask all participants to fill out a questionnaire both before and after surgery. This will help us understand how a neuroma affects the quality of life of amputee will allow us to understand how to best improve neuroma pain and prosthesis control. In order to confirm the presence and location of the neuroma before surgery, a magnetic resonance image (MRI) will be performed. Taking these pictures requires subjects to lie still for a short period of time but does not involve any invasive procedures.

Conditions

Neuroma; Pain; Prosthesis User; Prosthesis Failure

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Improvement in pain of the amputated limb after surgery (survey results)

  Compare patient-reported pre-operative survey results to those after surgical intervention at intervals over time (1 month, 3 months,6 months, 9 months,1 year, and then every six months thereafter until the conclusion of the study).

  12 months

• Improvement in physical functioning (prosthesis wear and function), after surgery

  Using the same PROMIS platform, general health, physical functioning (including functional prosthesis wear), and satisfaction following surgery will also be assessed as important secondary outcomes, resulting in a more comprehensive and objective understanding of the effects of the two surgical approaches on neuroma pain. Another particularly useful tool for this study is the Orthotics and Prosthetics User Survey (OPUS) Functional Status. The OPUS is a validated instrument that assesses how well patients are using their prostheses. Thus, we will examine a very important secondary measure of neuroma pain-the ability to use a prosthesis. Prosthesis use is often the primary problem for individuals with painful neuromas; they hurt most during walking with a prosthesis or when wearing a prosthetic arm.

  12 months

Study Arms (1)

TR

EXPERIMENTAL

All subjects enrolled in this study will undergo pre-operative evaluation, anesthesia, and dissection to identify the painful residual limb neuroma(s). Gentle traction will be applied to the nerve while excising the neuroma (traction neurectomy) allowing the nerve to retract more proximally.Targeted muscle reinnervation involves transfer of residual nerves to otherwise redundant target muscles. Native motor innervation of the target muscle is cut, and the residual nerves-after excision of end-neuromas-are coapted to the motor end point of the motor nerve, close to its point of entry into the muscle.

Procedure: Targeted Muscle Reinnervation

Interventions

Targeted Muscle Reinnervation PROCEDURE

Targeted reinnervation (TR) is a surgical procedure originally designed to provide intuitive control of upper limb prostheses through transfers of residual nerves to otherwise redundant target muscle. Native motor innervation of the target muscle is cut, and the residual nerves-after excision of end-neuromas-are coapted to the motor end point of the motor nerve, close to its point of entry into the muscle. The central principle underlying the nerve transfers in TR surgery is to reestablish the function of the amputated nerve and allow intuitive, seamless prosthesis control.

Also known as: Targeted Reinnervation

TR

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 85 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adult, 18 years or older: the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) questionnaire is not validated for pain-related evaluation in minors
• An upper limb amputation above the wrist with or without a residual limb or a lower limb amputation above the ankle with a residual limb
• A neuroma within the residual limb: defined as patient-reported chronic localized pain consistent with a physical exam that demonstrates that the pain is related to a cut nerve and excludes other causes. There must be a supporting Tinel's sign on physical exam, or localization of a neuroma by prior intervention (surgical or otherwise) to distinguish the pain from phantom limb pain or cold intolerance that are nonspecific signs of nerve damage that would not be affected by treatment of a neuroma
• English or Spanish speaking

You may not qualify if:

• Prior TR Surgery: these patients have already had a procedure to improve their prosthetic function and in these cases the nerves have been shortened. To perform a second TR procedure with the previously shortened nerves would require a significant proximal dissection and potentially greater soft tissue morbidity than the standard treatment.
• Cognitive impairment, due to TBI or other causes, sufficient to adversely affect understanding of or compliance with study requirements, ability to respond to questionnaires, or ability to give informed consent: The ability to understand and comply with requirements of the study is essential in order for the study to generate useable, reliable data. The ability to obtain relevant feedback through questionnaires is essential to this study.
• Pre-operative assessment that precludes the patient from being eligible for TR or control surgery due to technical surgical concerns.
• Significant other comorbidity: Any other medical issues or injuries that would preclude safe administration of anesthesia or surgical intervention.
• Participation in other ongoing studies related to neuropathic pain.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northwestern University: lead
• University of Washington: collaborator

Study Sites (6)

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

Location

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20889-5600, United States

Location

The Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio, 43212, United States

Location

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States

Location

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States

Location

San Antonio Military Medical Center

San Antonio, Texas, 78234, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neuroma; Pain; Prosthesis Failure

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Nerve Sheath Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 10, 2014
• First Posted: December 12, 2014
• Study Start: October 1, 2014
• Primary Completion: January 1, 2018
• Study Completion: January 1, 2018
• Last Updated: January 3, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-01

Locations

US (6)