Biomaterial Database

Nerve repair by means of tubulization: past, present, future. 2013

P Konofaos, and J P Ver Halen

Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Tennessee, Germantown, TN 38103, USA..

Peripheral nerve injury may result in injury without gaps or injury with gaps between nerve stumps. In the presence of a nerve defect, the placement of an autologous nerve graft is the current gold standard for nerve restoration. The clinical employment of tubes as an alternative to autogenous nerve grafts is mainly justified by the limited availability of donor tissue for nerve autografts and their related morbidity. The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the literature on the applications of nerve conduits in peripheral nerve repair. Moreover, the different steps that are involved in the design of an ideal nerve conduit for peripheral nerve repair, including the choice of biomaterial, fabrication technique, and the various potential modifications to the common hollow nerve tube, are also discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008866	Microsurgery	The performance of surgical procedures with the aid of a microscope.
D009414	Nerve Growth Factors	Factors which enhance the growth potentialities of sensory and sympathetic nerve cells.	Neurite Outgrowth Factor,Neurite Outgrowth Factors,Neuronal Growth-Associated Protein,Neuronotrophic Factor,Neurotrophic Factor,Neurotrophic Factors,Neurotrophin,Neurotrophins,Growth-Associated Proteins, Neuronal,Neuronal Growth-Associated Proteins,Neuronotrophic Factors,Neurotrophic Protein,Neurotrophic Proteins,Proteins, Neuronal Growth-Associated,Factor, Neurite Outgrowth,Factor, Neuronotrophic,Factor, Neurotrophic,Factors, Nerve Growth,Factors, Neurite Outgrowth,Factors, Neuronotrophic,Factors, Neurotrophic,Growth Associated Proteins, Neuronal,Growth-Associated Protein, Neuronal,Neuronal Growth Associated Protein,Neuronal Growth Associated Proteins,Outgrowth Factor, Neurite,Outgrowth Factors, Neurite,Protein, Neuronal Growth-Associated
D009416	Nerve Regeneration	Renewal or physiological repair of damaged nerve tissue.	Nerve Tissue Regeneration,Nervous Tissue Regeneration,Neural Tissue Regeneration,Nerve Tissue Regenerations,Nervous Tissue Regenerations,Neural Tissue Regenerations,Regeneration, Nerve,Regeneration, Nerve Tissue,Regeneration, Nervous Tissue,Regeneration, Neural Tissue,Tissue Regeneration, Nerve,Tissue Regeneration, Nervous,Tissue Regeneration, Neural
D011091	Polyesters	Polymers of organic acids and alcohols, with ester linkages--usually polyethylene terephthalate; can be cured into hard plastic, films or tapes, or fibers which can be woven into fabrics, meshes or velours.	Polyester
D011100	Polyglycolic Acid	A biocompatible polymer used as a surgical suture material.	Polyglycolide,Biofix,Dexon (Polyester),Dexon-S,Dexon S,DexonS
D011138	Polytetrafluoroethylene	Homopolymer of tetrafluoroethylene. Nonflammable, tough, inert plastic tubing or sheeting; used to line vessels, insulate, protect or lubricate apparatus; also as filter, coating for surgical implants or as prosthetic material. Synonyms: Fluoroflex; Fluoroplast; Ftoroplast; Halon; Polyfene; PTFE; Tetron.	FEP,Fluon,Politef,Polytef,TFE,Teflon,Expanded PTFE,Fluoroplast,GORE-TEX,Goretex,PTFE,Tarflen,GORE TEX,PTFE, Expanded
D011474	Prosthesis Design	The plan and delineation of prostheses in general or a specific prosthesis.	Design, Prosthesis,Designs, Prosthesis,Prosthesis Designs
D003094	Collagen	A polypeptide substance comprising about one third of the total protein in mammalian organisms. It is the main constituent of SKIN; CONNECTIVE TISSUE; and the organic substance of bones (BONE AND BONES) and teeth (TOOTH).	Avicon,Avitene,Collagen Felt,Collagen Fleece,Collagenfleece,Collastat,Dermodress,Microfibril Collagen Hemostat,Pangen,Zyderm,alpha-Collagen,Collagen Hemostat, Microfibril,alpha Collagen
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001158	Arteries	The vessels carrying blood away from the heart.	Artery