Summary
| Title: | Surgcal guidance of nerve repair using OCT |
| PI: | Dr. Constantinos Pitris |
| Postdocs/Students: | Panayiotis Ioannides |
| Andreas Kartakoulis | |
| Evgenia Bousi | |
| Collaborators: | Dr. G. Psaras, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa |
| Dr. C. Loizou, Intercollege | |
| Funding Agencies: | Research Promotion FOundation, £ 75.000 |
| Duration: | 9/2004-9/2007 |
Abstract
A new collaboration network has been established, with the support of the Research Promotion Foundation of Cyprus, between the University of Cyprus, Intercollege, Cyprus and the University of Witewatersrand, South Africa, to apply Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to improve the results of peripheral nerve repair. Traumas of the peripheral nerves are, unfortunately, very common. In the USA alone there were 50 000 cases in 1995. This number does not include nerve injuries which result from surgical procedures, e.g. during prostatectomy. The issue of paralysis is estimated to cost the USA approximately 7 billion dollars. Successful repair of peripheral nerves is essential for the reduction of the unfortunate sequelae of trauma. Serious consequences, such as paralysis and reduced sense and usage of the limb, can be avoided with appropriate neurorrhaphy. The successful repair of a peripheral nerve requires a detailed and delicate micro-surgical procedure. The vast majority of neurosurgeons bases the alignment and reconnection of the nerves on surface features which are evaluated during surgery according to subjective criteria. A technology which would allow the accurate alignment of the two sides of the nerve during neurorrhaphy, reliably and in real-time, could significantly reduce the consequences of peripheral nerve injury and improve patient outcome. We propose the use of OCT for such a purpose. The project will begin with the design and construction of an OCT system, capable of imaging both sides of the severed nerve. It will attach to the surgical microscope in the operating room along with a device which will stabilize and rotate the nerves. Automatic, image processing, algorithms will be developed to guide the rotation and alignment of the two ends of the nerve during the micro-surgical repair. The system will be tested for efficacy and safety ex-vivo and in-vivo in an animal model. It is expected that the results of this project will significantly improve the outcome of surgical repair of peripheral nerve injuries.