Nerve repair and regeneration: Biological tubulization limits and future perspectives

J Cell Physiol. 2019 Apr;234(4):3362-3375. doi: 10.1002/jcp.27299. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Abstract

Peripheral nerve physiology and regeneration has been observed and investigated in literature but surgical applications to reconstruct and restore motor or sensory functions are still in a developmental phase. The peripheral nerve progresses slowly and incompletely compared with other tissues, it may provoke separations of the nerve stumps and the axonal proliferation of the conduits is restricted to 30 mm. Recent surgical attempts to treat proximal nerve injures include direct nerve restoration, transfer, and autografting measures with favorable results. Moreover, studies are suggesting that engineering tissue tubes maybe as effective as nerve grafting to restore separations of more than 4 cm toward optimal nerve repair.

Keywords: amniotic membrane; biological tubulization; nerve regeneration; nerve repair; tissue engineering.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amnion / transplantation*
  • Animals
  • Guided Tissue Regeneration / instrumentation
  • Guided Tissue Regeneration / methods*
  • Humans
  • Nerve Regeneration*
  • Neural Prostheses
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / instrumentation
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / methods*
  • Peripheral Nerve Injuries / pathology
  • Peripheral Nerve Injuries / physiopathology
  • Peripheral Nerve Injuries / surgery*
  • Peripheral Nerves / pathology
  • Peripheral Nerves / physiopathology
  • Peripheral Nerves / surgery*
  • Recovery of Function
  • Tissue Engineering / instrumentation
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Wound Healing