Project title: Ligation Versus Surgical Excision in Ulnar Polydactyly (LINE UP)

Grant Holder: Abhilash Jain

Position: Senior investigator, Surgical Interventions Trials Unit, University of Oxford

Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Imperial College NHS Foundation Trust

Summary of project/progress /findings (approx 300 words)

The optimal management of type B ulnar polydactyly an important and unaddressed question. Since our receipt of the BSSH pump priming grant in 2019, the LINE UP study (Ligation Vs Surgical Excision in Ulnar Polydactyly) has been successfully established and maintained by the Reconstructive Surgical Trials Network (RSTN), with the support of the Surgical Interventions Trials Unit (SITU), University of Oxford.

Completed components of research:

(1) Systematic review of optimal management of type B (non-complex) ulnar polydactyly – under review by peer-reviewed journal

(2) Completed PPI Session appraising patient priorities in management – with particular emphasis on anaesthetic choice, same-day or ‘one-stop’ care and operative techniques

(3) Completed pilot study for a national service evaluation (recruiting paediatric hand surgery units) – pilot study following development of a data collection instrument by investigators – trailed at a single units with collection of results

(4) Completed results from clinician survey to assess practice and clinician views on management priorities – pending submission to peer reviewed journal

What is the relevance/value of this research to hand surgery:

Uniform and evidence-based care is a priority in all fields of hand surgery. There is variation in UK practice in managing non-complex or type B ulnar polydactyly, with little understanding of patient priorities and a lack of high-quality comparative evidence. Addressing this need has implications for improving patient quality of life and experience, and in resource utilisation for the healthcare service.

Please list presentations based on work performed in this study

Awaiting submission for presentations

Please list publications based on work performed in this study

(1) Systematic review of optimal management of type B (non-complex) ulnar polydactyly – under review by peer-reviewed journal

Please state what additional research this study has/is leading to

Pending full release of the findings and completion of the national service evaluation, the intention is to conduct a prospective study comparing treatment arms for intervention with a view to providing a national recommendation and gold standards for holistic care.

Please list any further funding or grant applications (with outcome), which have resulted from the award of this grant

How has this grant awards helped your career development?

This grant has supported an interim report of the findings, submitted as a thesis for an MSc in Surgical Innovation – for Lead investigator and co-recipient of award – Harsh Samarendra