Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface

Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface, or RPNI, is a relatively new surgical technique designed to relieve nerve pain after a limb amputation.

Regenerative Nerve Interface

When nerve endings are severed during amputation, they can create a disordered mass of nerves, leading to chronic pain. Our surgery for Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface in Denver can prevent or manage this pain, improving your quality of life and increasing physical ability.

Do You Suffer from Nerve Pain After Amputation?

About eight out of ten people who lose a limb suffer from pain known as phantom limb pain. Phantom limb pain is pain that arises in the area of the missing body part. This is caused by a mix-up in nerve signals. Even after amputation, your nervous system continues sending signals to the area of the amputated body part. These signals stop abruptly when they reach the severed nerve endings, resulting in pain and discomfort. Symptoms of phantom limb pain include:

Throbbing or shooting pains in the area
Itching or burning
Aching
A pinching feeling

Achieve Relief from Nerve Pain

When a nerve is severed, it begins a process of regeneration. A severed nerve doesn’t have any clear target to regenerate towards, so the healing process often results in an uncontrolled lump of scar tissue and long threads called axons, which form as a nerve attempts to heal.

This ball is called a neuroma. Neuromas commonly form after amputation.

A neuroma can contribute to phantom pain and can form as quickly as four weeks after surgery. Symptoms include:

Tenderness
A shooting sensation
Tingling

How Does RPNI Work?

Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface is a surgical solution to phantom pains and neuroma pain. During an amputation, the peripheral nerves (those that branch out from the spine and spread throughout the rest of the body) are severed. Performed either at the time of amputation or at a later point, RPNI encourages nerve endings to regenerate in an orderly manner. RPNI is performed using muscle grafts from other parts of the body (often the thigh), giving the nerve ending new muscle tissue in which to regenerate. The muscle graft doesn’t affect the nerve, other than providing a new target for the nerve to grow.

Am I Eligible for RPNI?

If you suffer from phantom pain or neuroma pain after an amputation, our Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface in Denver may be a suitable solution for you. If you have not yet undergone limb amputation, you may be interested in receiving RPNI surgery at the same time as your amputation to prevent neuroma formation and uncomfortable symptoms.

We recommend scheduling a consultation at the Atlas Institute Peripheral Nerve Care in Denver. With advanced training in the full spectrum of nerve specific maladies, we will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment plan. We offer both surgical and non-surgical treatments designed to achieve the best possible outcome for your unique circumstances.

Will I Need to Spend the Night at the Hospital?

RPNI is a less invasive surgery than Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR). You should be able to go home again on the same day as your procedure unless there are more complex aspects to your procedure. Before your Peripheral Nerve surgery in Denver, your surgeon will go over the details of your surgical plan, so you know exactly what to expect.

Here to Empower You and Help You Achieve Lasting Relief

At the Atlas Institute Peripheral Nerve Care in Denver, we understand the true significance of nerve pain or dysfunction. With the latest advances in diagnostic and therapeutic technology, we can provide you with an accurate diagnosis that opens the door to a real improvement in your symptoms. We provide advanced surgical procedures as well as nonoperative treatments such as therapeutic injections and nerve decompressions. We are committed to helping you achieve lasting relief, whatever your diagnosis and symptoms may be. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!