CURRENT CONCEPTS IN PERIPHERAL NERVE INJURY REPAIR

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Peripheral nerve injuries present significant challenges in microsurgery despite 40 years of research.
• Current reconstructive techniques often yield useful but incomplete functional recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state and future directions in peripheral nerve reconstructive surgery.
• To highlight factors limiting functional recovery and emerging therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental and clinical research on peripheral nerve repair.
• Analysis of surgical techniques, patient factors, and injury characteristics influencing outcomes.

Main Results:

• Surgical success depends on nerve fiber regeneration, influenced by technique, patient age, injury delay, and type.
• Advanced techniques like nerve transfers and end-to-side neurorrhaphy are increasingly used.
• Some severe injuries, including brachial plexus and peroneal nerve injuries, remain untreatable.

Conclusions:

• Future strategies involve influencing nerve regeneration at the cellular level with growth-promoting substances.
• Early surgical intervention at specialized centers is crucial for successful peripheral nerve repair.