Peripheral Nerve

Overview

In collaboration with the Divisions of Neurology (neuromuscular program) and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, a surgical peripheral nerve program was initiated with the recruitment of the Division Head in neurosurgery, an established peripheral nerve expert. State of the art surgical management of peripheral nerve conditions is now possible in Western Canada. This program already attracts referral of patients from all of Alberta, and indeed a few select patients from across Canada, and treats approximately 60 patients a year with advanced peripheral nerve conditions.

This program is multi-disciplinary, encompassing clinical and electrodiagnostic services provided by Neurology and PMR faculty, electrophysiology support and surgical treatment of patients.  The latter consists of state of the art surgical management of peripheral nerve conditions, such as complex peripheral nerve injuries, nerve tumors, brachial plexus surgery as well as advanced nerve repair and nerve transfer techniques.  Members have recently launched a clinical randomized control trial which will be comparing surgical decompression to best medical management for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Three of the faculty members (Midha, Toth, Zochodne) within the program also have independent basic science research laboratories investigating various facets of peripheral nerve disease, including neuropathy, nerve injury and nerve regeneration.  There is considerable collaboration amongst the principal investigators, of their graduate students and fellows.  These individuals are also member of the spinal cord and nerve regeneration and repair program within the HBI. Go to http://www.hbi.ucalgary.ca or http://www.ucalgary.ca/spinalnerve/ for more information.

Research Interests 

• Experimental nerve injury
• Nerve guidance tubes to repair nerve injuries
• Growth factors and stem cell therapy to enhance nerve regeneration
• Electrical regeneration interfaces (CIHR Regengenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine Team grant)
• Insulin and IGFI effect on nerve injury and diabetic neuropathy
• Diabetic neuropathy

Team:

Director & Surgeon: Dr. Rajiv Midha
Medical Neurologist & Electrodiagnostics: Dr. Chris White, Dr. Doug Zochodne, Dr. Cory Toth, Dr. Steven McNeil
Fellows: Dr. Bassam Addas (2007-8), Dr. Jacob Alant (2008-9)
Intraoperative Electrophysiology Support: Michael Rigby, Erin Phillip

 

Grant Support

• Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR)
• Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR)
• Aegera Therapeutics
• Canadian Diabetes Association
• National Institute of Health (NINDS)
• Pfizer Corporation
• Integra Life Sciences 

Updated: 2009-04-30