idegátültetés

Idegátültetés, also known as nerve grafting or nerve transplantation, is a surgical procedure used to repair or bridge a gap in a damaged nerve. This technique is employed when a nerve has been severed or significantly damaged due to trauma, injury, or disease, and the ends cannot be directly rejoined. The goal of nerve grafting is to restore continuity to the nerve, allowing for the transmission of electrical signals from the brain or spinal cord to muscles or sensory organs, and vice versa.

There are two primary types of nerve grafts: autografts and allografts. Autografts involve using a section of nerve from the patient's own body, typically harvested from an area where the nerve is not essential for function, such as a sensory nerve in the leg. This method has the highest success rate as it minimizes the risk of rejection by the patient's immune system. Allografts, on the other hand, utilize nerve tissue from a donor, either human or animal. These grafts require immunosuppressive medication to prevent rejection and are generally less common than autografts.

The procedure involves carefully preparing the damaged nerve ends and then suturing the graft into place, connecting the proximal (closer to the body) and distal (further from the body) segments of the severed nerve. Following surgery, a period of recovery is necessary for nerve regeneration to occur. This process can be slow, with nerve fibers growing at a rate of approximately one millimeter per day. The extent of functional recovery depends on various factors, including the type and severity of nerve damage, the patient's age, and the success of the surgical intervention.