Nerve regeneration problems in a clinical perspective

Issue title: Regulators of Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lundborg, Göran

Affiliations: Department of Hand Surgery, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, S-214 01 Malmö (Sweden)

Note: [] Correspondence: G. Lundborg, Department of Hand Surgery, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, S-214 01 Malmö, Sweden.

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Peripheral nerve, Nerve injury, Nerve repair, Nerve regeneration, Growth factors, Schwann cells

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-1990-13418

Journal: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 1, no. 3-4, pp. 297-302, 1990