[Vascularized nerve transplant--theoretical advantages and disadvantages]

A survey of publications dealing with vascularized nerve grafts is given. The advantages and disadvantages are discussed by analyzing the published data. Until now the superiority of vascularized nerve grafts has not been proven by the published experimental and clinical results. This fact was underlined by the results of our own experimental investigations: In conventional nerve grafts performed on sheep it was shown that the functional results of reinnervation cannot be correlated to the degree of vascularization of the nerve graft or to number and morphology of the regenerated axons. Therefore, the indications for the clinical application of the vascularized nerve graft must be limited to the following conditions: Poorly vascularized recipient bed, thick nerve graft, unsuccessful previous conventional nerve grafting, and the necessity of vascular reconstruction at the same time.