Advances in nerve guidance conduits for peripheral nerve repair and regeneration

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) can cause partial or total motor and sensory nerve function, leading to physical disability and nerve pain that severely affects patients' quality of life. Autologous nerve transplantation is currently the clinically recognized gold standard, but due to its inherent limitations, researchers have been searching for alternative treatments. Nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) have attracted much attention as a favorable alternative to promote the repair and regeneration of damaged peripheral nerves. In this review, we provide an overview of the anatomy of peripheral nerves, peripheral nerve injury and repair, and current treatment methods. Importantly, different design strategies of NGCs used for the treatment of PNI and their applications in PNI repair are highlighted. Finally, an outlook on the future development and challenges of NGCs is presented.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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