This group will receive polyethylene glycol (50% weight/volume) applied to the nerve coaptation site during primary repair of peripheral nerve injury in the hand.

This group will receive normal saline applied to the nerve coaptation site during primary repair of peripheral nerve injury in the hand.

In order to prepare PEG 3350 50% weight/volume, 25 grams of the sterilized PEG 3350 will be measured out and placed into a sterilized glass bottle then 25 mL of sterile water will be added. The solution will be allowed to rest for 10 minutes so that dissolution may occur. More sterile water will then be added so the total volume is 50mL. This solution will then be sterilized by the Halifax Health Infirmary pharmacy department using a liquid autoclave cycle of 120 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes in a glass vial. The 50 mL solution will be portioned into 2mL sterilized glass vials using a standard aseptic technique. The solutions will be kept at a solid frozen state between negative 25 degrees Celsius and negative 10 degrees Celsius for a maximum of 45 days. The solutions will be removed from storage on the day of surgical utilization in order to ensure storage guidelines are kept to the highest standards.

Sensory recovery will be assessed by a blinded and trained OT through standardized testing with static two point discrimination (s2PD) and Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing (SWMT). The end point will be composite in nature as both s2PD and SWMT are important to gauge and are the gold standards in determining sensory recovery.

Functional recovery assessed by the Michigan Health Questionnaire (MHQ).