Nervgraft

Nervgraft is a term used in peripheral nerve repair to describe grafting approaches that restore continuity to damaged nerves by providing a scaffold for axonal regrowth. It encompasses autologous nerve grafts, allogeneic nerve grafts processed to reduce immune response, and nerve conduits that guide regenerating fibers across a gap.

Procedures involve several techniques. Autograft involves harvesting a healthy nerve segment from the patient and transplanting it to bridge a gap. Allograft uses a donor nerve, often decellularized or immunologically treated to minimize rejection. Nerve conduits are biocompatible tubes, sometimes combined with biologics or cells, placed to direct regenerating axons when gaps are small or direct repair is not possible.

Indications include traumatic nerve injuries with a gap that cannot be closed by direct suturing, and selected chronic or iatrogenic nerve defects where regeneration is desired. The choice of nervgraft method depends on gap length, tissue quality, and patient factors.

Outcomes vary with gap length, injury chronicity, and rehabilitation; functional recovery is often partial and more favorable for sensory than motor nerves. Complications may include infection, graft failure, neuroma formation, and donor-site morbidity for autografts. The success of nervgraft strategies depends on multiple factors, including surgical technique and postoperative therapy.

Nervgraft concepts are well established in clinical practice for short-to-moderate gaps, while longer gaps and advanced tissue-engineered grafts remain active areas of research. Regulatory status depends on the specific graft or conduit product and jurisdiction.