Do AxoGuard Implants Decrease Shoulder Disability After Neck Dissections

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Spinal Accessory Nerve Injury; Cervical Lymphadenopathy
• Interventions: Device: AxoGuard Nerve Cuff

• Registration Number: NCT03941327
• Lead Sponsor: University of Mississippi Medical Center

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Axoguard nerve protectors have a role in preventing shoulder disability and pain following spinal accessory nerve sparing neck dissections.

Detailed Description

The spinal accessory nerve is often manipulated during selective neck dissections in order to remove the fibrofatty tissues containing lymph nodes surrounding the nerve. Afterwards the nerve is left exposed without it's normal support making it vulnerable to adhesions, compression, and stretch injury. Axoguard nerve wraps have shown significant promise in preventing the recurrence of carpal tunnel following forearm surgery, and preventing impotence and incontinence following nerve sparing robotic radical prostatectomy. The investigators hypothesize that the same technology may aid in reducing shoulder disability and pain if used in spinal accessory nerve sparing neck dissections. In this prospective single blinded randomized controlled study the investigators will randomly assign patients to a control group that will not receive the AxoGuard nerve wrap, and a study group that will receive the AxoGuard nerve wrap around their exposed spinal accessory nerve(s) using a research randomization tool. The results will be stratified into groups including preoperative and postoperative stage of disease, preoperative and postoperative nodal (neck) stage, history of radiation, and whether or not level 2B was dissected. Individuals with a history of pre-existing disabling shoulder complaints, individuals under the age of 18, individuals who cannot provide their own informed consent, and individuals undergoing a neck dissection that will remove the sternocleidomastoid muscle or spinal accessory nerve will be excluded from the study. Patients will undergo preoperative shoulder assessment using the Constant-Murley shoulder outcome score at their initial clinical visit. Postoperative outcomes will be recorded at 2 weeks, 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months and measured by the Shoulder Disability Questionnaire, Rand-36 quality of life survey, pain scale, and Constant-Murley shoulder outcome score. With this study the investigators aim to show a clinically significant improvement in shoulder function following spinal accessory nerve sparing neck dissections when AxoGuard nerve wraps are used to protect the nerve. Additionally, the investigators aim to improve patient satisfaction, decrease post-op pain, and improve quality of life.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2019-05
• Study Start: 2019-05-01
• Study First Submitted: 2019-05-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-05-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-05-06
• Study First Posted: 2019-05-07
• Last Update Posted: 2019-05-07
• Primary Completion: 2020-05-01
• Study Completion: 2020-05-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

-Any neck dissection (cervical lymphadenectomy) that involves resection of level 2 cervical lymph nodes for malignancy and does not fall into the categories listed under the exclusion criteria.

Exclusion Criteria

1. History of modified radical neck dissection involving removal of spinal accessory nerve or sternocleidomastoid muscle
2. History of radical neck dissection
3. History of pre- existing disabling shoulder complaints
4. <18 years of age
5. Any individual unable to provide consent for his/her self.
6. Any individual with allergy, sensitivity, or aversion to porcine material.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Control	AxoGuard Nerve Cuff	Patients who provide consent for implant placement but do not receive the implant.
Interventional	AxoGuard Nerve Cuff	Patients who provide consent for implant placement and do receive the implant.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Shoulder function	The comparison of improvement or change in shoulder function over 6 months between the control and intervention groups will be the primary outcome measure.	Shoulder function will be assessed by Constant-Murley shoulder scale. The Constant-Murley shoulder scale is a validated subjective and objective survey of overall shoulder function. The scale ranges from 0 (no shoulder function) to 100 (perfect shoulder function). It consists of several questions about pain and disability as well as actual shoulder testing that will be performed by the consenting physician during the participant's clinic appointment.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Postoperative pain following neck dissection: rate shoulder pain from 1-10	Patients will be asked to rate shoulder pain from 1-10 at each postoperative visit over the course of 6 months.	The comparison of the improvement or change in pain scores over 6 months between the control group and intervention group will be assessed at each clinical visit over the course of 6 months.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Mississippi Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Jackson, Mississippi, United States