Preferential motor reinnervation

[1][2][3] PMR affects how nerves regenerate and reinnervate within the PNS after surgical procedures or traumatic injuries.

Further research of preferential motor reinnervation will lead to a better understanding of peripheral nervous system function in the human body regarding cell roles and abilities.

The more precisely the axon stump is able to regrow along its original path, the better the recovery of function – especially when it comes to experiencing fine touch and movements.

When a patient loses nerve function, PMR can interfere with (or help) the different methods of repair that physicians use.

The nerves' ability to properly function after damage is very dependent on successful reinnervation, which is why the effects of PMR are so relevant.

Grafting aims to solve the problem of incorrect targeting of regenerating axons, resulting in less-than-perfect reinnervation.

When multiple nerves are cut, they must regrow and enter back through one of the Schwann cells that makes up the distal stump of the gap.

This difference in trophic factor support is suspected to be a major influencer of preferential motor reinnervation.

However, after that time period, end-organ contact plays a role in influencing the reinnervation ability of the axon.

When the end of the pathway is a muscle contact area, there is a significant difference in the number of motor neurons reinnervating.

[16] The ability of an axon to "choose" the accurate Schwann cell and eventually site of innervation is interconnected to preferential motor reinnervation.

Additionally, it influences whether or not a nerve can truly experience full reinnervation and recovery of function that is likened to what it had before the injury.

Different studies are investigating how an axon pathway specificity can be manipulated in order to see what kind of surgical advances can be made regarding neuron repair.

[10] The understanding of what Schwann cell tube axons tend to reinnervate has implications for whether a nerve will be able to become functional again after damage.

Though manipulation of axonal collateral formation may help, the further understanding of PMR will allow for the surgical practices and medical advances in nerve repair to continue developing.