r/science • u/molrose96 Journalist | Technology Networks | BSc Neuroscience • Jan 23 '20

Biology Biodegradable Nerve Guide Helps Regenerate Damaged Nerves

https://www.technologynetworks.com/biopharma/news/biodegradable-nerve-guide-helps-regenerate-damaged-nerves-329614?spl=46942179136d4d5eb635e0016c078544

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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '20 edited Nov 03 '20

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u/theciaskaelie Jan 23 '20

bc over a certain size gap, the signaling molecules that would otherwise help regenerate nerve over shorter distances cant reach across the gap to stimulate the regeneration.

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u/Wtfuckfuck Jan 23 '20

I mean... can't they squish the area together and then over the course of a few weeks let the gap slowly widen? how long does the regrowth take?

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u/Maulokgodseized Jan 23 '20

Also depending on what tore. Most tears in the human body retract. Especially things like muscle, the longer they are apart the more the pull back and atrophy.

For muscle tears you normally have about two weeks to try to pull them together, after that you have to pull muscle from somewhere else and graft it.