PLAINSBORO, N.J., Oct. 2, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq: IART ) today announced the Podium Presentation of A Collagen Conduit vs. Microsurgical Neurorrhaphy. Two-Year Follow up of a Prospective Blinded Clinical and Electrophysiological Multicenter RCT , at the 68 th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) in the Best Papers segment, October 3-5, 2013, San Francisco, CA.
The presentation provides two-year follow up of a controlled, randomized, blind multi-center study of peripheral nerve repair, comparing NeuraGen® Nerve Guide to direct suture in patients who had complete traumatic nerve injuries to the median and/or ulnar nerves. Thirty-two patients completed the two-year post-operative follow-up period, during which they were routinely examined for sensory and motor electrophysiological function, post-operative pain assessments and overall hand function.
Results showed that operation time using the collagen conduit was significantly shorter than performing conventional repair, and patients who received NeuraGen Nerve Guide had lower post-operative pain than those treated with direct suture repair. The overall study conclusion was that entubulation nerve repair using the NeuraGen Nerve Guide is as effective a method of joining severed nerves as direct microsurgical suture.
"The successful completion of the NeuraGen Nerve Guide clinical trial is the culmination of over 30 years of basic science and clinical translation efforts by a wide range of industrial and academic collaborations across Europe and the United States," said Simon Archibald, Integra's Chief Scientific Officer. "The clinical follow-up of nerve repair is a long and exacting task; the entire team is to be congratulated on completing this 10+ year investigation. We are pleased to congratulate Dr. Michel Boeckstyns and his co-authors for having received a Best Paper designation from the ASSH for their report."
About NeuraGen® Nerve Guide
NeuraGen Nerve Guide, a semi-permeable, Type 1 collagen tube, is a resorbable implant designed for peripheral nerve repair. It provides a protective environment for nerve regeneration.
About Integra LifeSciences
Integra LifeSciences, a world leader in medical technology, is dedicated to limiting uncertainty for surgeons, so they can concentrate on providing the best patient care. Integra offers innovative solutions in orthopedic extremity surgery, neurosurgery, spine surgery, and reconstructive and general surgery. For more information, please visit www.integralife.com .
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the products and services provided by Integra. Such forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from predicted or expected results. Among other things, the willingness of surgical professionals to use Integra products may affect the prospects for their use in surgical procedures. In addition, the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors, identified under the heading "Risk Factors" included in Item IA of Integra's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and information contained in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission could affect actual results.
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation Gianna Sabella Director, Corporate Communications (609) 936-2389
