Nerve regeneration problems in a clinical perspective

Injuries to peripheral nerves represent a challenging clinical problem. In spite of the use of microsurgical techniques, repair of severed nerves seldom results in complete recovery of motor and sensory functions. Misdirection of axons at the suture line as well as a slow axonal outgrowth contribute to the bad results. Recent experimental data indicate that growth factors, synthesized by the damaged nerve tissue as well as protein-associated neurite-promoting factors in the local micro-environment play an important role for the regulation of axonal growth and directionality. Future studies should aim at an application of this knowledge to the clinical treatment of nerve injuries.