Alternatives to autologous nerve grafts

The use of autologous nerve grafts for bridging defects in nerve continuity requires the sacrifice of healthy nerves. Development of alternatives to autologous nerve grafts is therefore well motivated. Such "bioartificial nerve grafts" can be tissue-engineered on the basis of the use of a stroma/matrix/scaffold acting in concert with cells and neurotrophic factors. Such a scaffold can be of synthetic or biological nature and can be resorbable or non-resorbable. It should act together with Schwann cells which can be pre-cultured or acutely dissociated. Neurotrophic factors, stimulating axonal growth, can be incorporated in the scaffold and can also be supplied by cells which are seeded into the stroma. So far, tissue-engineered nerve conduits have been used mainly for experimental purposes in experimental animals. However, an increasing amount of experience from the clinical use of alternatives to nerve grafts now exists, mainly tubes made of silicone or poly-glycolic acid (PGA), veins, collagen and muscle basal laminae.