Potential of the use of an antioxidant compound to promote peripheral nerve regeneration after injury

Abstract

The peripheral nervous system is a vital part of the body because it transfers information to coordinate all actions. Peripheral nerve injuries are detrimental to the proper function of this system and can cause loss of sense and movement. It is of utmost importance to research approaches to the treatment of peripheral nerve damage because such injuries can drastically change a person's life, and these traumatic injuries are a significant cause of physical disabilities that primarily affect the lives of young adults of working age. The aetiologies of traumatic peripheral nerve injury include penetrating injury, crush, traction, ischemia, and less common mechanisms, such as thermal-, electric shock-, radiation-, percussion-, and vibration-induced injuries (Robinson, 2004). Lacerations, for example, by glass, knives, fans, saw blades, auto metal, and long bone fractures, account for approximately 30% of serious nerve injuries. Another common injury mechanism is compression, which may involve mechanical deformation and ischemia. Manipulation of the nerve can generate a severe inflammatory reaction in the nerve, and these reactions have been likened to chemical burns with dense scarring accompanied by considerable pain (Bagheri et al., 2011).