Recent advances in nerve repair

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injuries are extremely devastating, and their management is exceedingly complex. Microsurgical repair is the mainstay of treatment and this includes direct nerve repair, nerve grafts, nerve tubes and nerve transfers. Today, nerve transfers are being widely performed due to an increased understanding of cortical plasticity, motor re-education and perioperative rehabilitation, and they are now known to produce excellent functional outcomes. This manuscript reviews the current strategies for nerve repair, including comments on outcomes, with special emphasis on existing nerve transfer techniques.

Keywords: Nerve injury; nerve grafts; nerve transfers; outcomes; surgical techniques.