Abstract:

Peripheral nerves act like networks of “wires” that conduct signals from the brain and spinal cord to organs throughout the body. Damage to these nerves leads to numbness, pain, and weakness that eventually reduces the patient’s quality of life. Fortunately, peripheral nerves have a high regenerative capacity and, in most cases, recover from mild disorders and injuries. However, there have been continuous challenges facing the development of treatments for peripheral nerve conditions such as disorders that occur through chronic mechanical stimulation like carpal tunnel syndrome, disorders due to side effects from drugs and intractable diseases like chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Furthermore, self-regeneration becomes difficult when trauma causes a large gap in the axon, leading to the patient needing nerve transplantation. While autologous nerve transplantation is the current gold standard, only approximately half of the cases obtain satisfactory functional recovery. More endeavors are needed to achieve better therapeutic effect with this treatment method.