Future perspectives in nerve repair and regeneration.

After peripheral nerve injuries, the process of nerve regeneration and target reinnervation is very complex and depends on many different events occurring not only at the lesion site but also proximally and distally to it. In spite of the recent scientific and technological advancements, the need to find out new strategies to improve clinical nerve repair and regeneration remains. To reach this goal, the therapeutic strategy should thus exert its effects at different levels in order to simultaneously potentiate axonal regeneration, increase neuronal survival, modulate central reorganization, and inhibit or reduce target organ atrophy. It is expected that this multilevel approach might lead to significant improvement in the functional outcome and thus the quality of life of the patients suffering from peripheral nerve injury.