N.B. surgeons begin using new therapy to boost nerve healing
A new therapy being tested in New Brunswick could change how patients recover from nerve injuries, according to Horizon Health Network.
Horizon said plastic surgeon Dr. Alison Wong and her team at the Saint John Regional Hospital recently completed the first PeriPulse procedure in Atlantic Canada.
PeriPulse is a Canadian‑developed device that delivers a short burst of electrical stimulation to a damaged nerve during or immediately after surgery.
The system was created by Epineuron Technologies, a nerve‑care company based in Canada.
Wong explained that nerve recovery is often slow because nerves heal at a rate of about an inch per month, according to Horizon Health Network’s release.
She said electrical stimulation can help improve that timeline and may support better long‑term function.
Horizon points to early evidence showing that most patients who receive PeriPulse report improved sensation within six months.
The network referenced a recent study in which nearly 88 per cent of treated patients reported significant sensory improvement compared with their condition before surgery.
Greg Doiron, Horizon’s vice‑president of clinical operations, said the organization is collaborating with Epineuron to bring the therapy to New Brunswick.
He described PeriPulse as a “made‑in‑Canada solution” that can help expand access to advanced care.
PeriPulse received Health Canada approval in late 2024.
Epineuron said clinical trials are underway across Canada and the United States, including one in Saint John focused on nerve injuries in fingers.
Epineuron CEO Sergio Aguirre called the first procedure in New Brunswick an important clinical milestone and thanked the hospital’s research team for its work.
Wong said the team is now recruiting more participants and hopes to complete at least 10 procedures as part of the local trial.
She added that they hope to expand the therapy to other types of nerve injuries in the future.
Horizon said the work supports its broader goal of improving hospital care and adapting clinical services to meet changing health‑care needs across the province.
