title: Update on nerve repair by biological tubulization.
abstract: Many surgical techniques are available for bridging peripheral nerve defects. Autologous nerve grafts are the current gold standard for most clinical conditions. In selected cases, alternative types of conduits can be used. Although most efforts are today directed towards the development of artificial synthetic nerve guides, the use of non-nervous autologous tissue-based conduits (biological tubulization) can still be considered a valuable alternative to nerve autografts. In this paper we will overview the advancements in biological tubulization of nerve defects, with either mono-component or multiple-component autotransplants, with a special focus on the use of a vein segment filled with skeletal muscle fibers, a technique that has been widely investigated in our laboratory and that has already been successfully introduced in the clinical practice.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geuna
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tos
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Titolo
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciclamini
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beningo
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Microsurgery Unit, CTO Hospital, Turin, Italy. bruno.battiston@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Battiston