repairing spinal roots after brachial plexus injuries

The problems of repairing spinal roots after brachial plexus avulsion injuries are discussed in the light of current surgical diagnosis and treatment. An advancing understanding of the cellular mechanisms of nerve regeneration and progress in surgical technology indicates a possibility for the repair at least of ventral roots with grafts which may be of neural or non-neural origin. Enhancement of the regenerative properties may further be made possible by the application of neurotrophic factors at the repair site or centrally. The short and long-term implications of current research into these methods are discussed.