Concepts of peripheral nerve repair.

Current nerve repair techniques are based on long history of animal experimentation and clinical experience. The complex anatomy of the peripheral nervous system is closely correlated with function and plays an important role in the nerve repair. Traumatic nerve injuries are classified according to experimental mechanism, anatomical injury, and clinicopathological response. The treatment of surgical disorders is based upon morphological and clinical criteria. The phases of recovery are correlated with useful function. The role that clinical factors other than nerve repair play in determining recovery is presented. The problems with clinical studies and the current expectation for successful recovery are discussed.