Terminolateral neurorrhaphy: review of experimental and clinical studies

Since the reintroduction of the terminolateral neurorrhaphy (TLN) concept by Viterbo in 1992, several published articles and abstracts have been reported in the English literature. This report was prepared to investigate the following subjects: source of current research on TLN, animal models, methods of assessment of axonal regeneration, the source of regenerating axons, sensory vs. motor collateral sprouting, effects on the donor nerve, cellular events following TLN, factors affecting axonal regeneration and, finally, end-to-side nerve repair in the human patient.