Indianapolis doctors have successfully used a new hydrogel technology to block amputee pain in a patient. The technology, developed by Tulavi Therapeutics, is designed to prevent the formation of painful nerve scars, known as neuromas, after an amputation.

The Procedure

A team of specialists at OrthoIndy and the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center performed the procedure, which involved combining a traditional technique called Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) with the newly available hydrogel nerve cap. The cap acts as a temporary barrier for roughly six months to a year before being completely and safely absorbed by the patient’s body.

According to Dr. Ian Chow, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with the Nerve Injury and Limb Pain Program at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, the initial results are highly promising. The nerve pathways treated with the new hydrogel caps currently show absolutely zero sensitivity.

A New Hope for Amputees

The success of this procedure underscores the value of the specialized, monthly multi-disciplinary clinic at OrthoIndy and the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center. By tackling complex nerve cases, traumatic injuries, and spasticity together, they are actively bringing medical tech out of the lab and directly to Indiana patients.

For Olivia, the Carmel resident who became the first patient in the state to receive the technology, the stakes were incredibly high. She had been battling a painful, vascular tumor in her lower leg that required countless interventions but offered zero long-term relief. However, armed with a fresh medical approach and what her doctors call a “can-do attitude,” Olivia is already defying the standard timeline for amputee recovery.

Original reporting: 93.1 WIBC (Indianapolis) — read the source article.