Repairing peripheral nerve injury using tissue engineering techniques.

Abstract

Each year approximately 360,000 people in the United States suffer a peripheral nerve injury (PNI), which is a leading source of lifelong disability (Kelsey et al., 1997; Noble et al., 1998). The most frequent cause of PNIs is motor vehicle accidents, while gunshot wounds, stabbings, and birth trauma are also common factors. Patients suffering from disabilities as a result of their PNIs are also burdensome to the healthcare system, with average hospital stays of 28 days each year (Kelsey et al., 1997; Noble et al., 1998).