Nerve surgery: where we are and where we might go.

Operative surgery remains the major therapeutic modality for most serious nerve injuries, entrapments, and many nerve tumors. This article highlights the advancements that have been made in nerve surgery since World War I, including nerve action potential recording, MRI, timing of repair, grafts, tubes, end-to-side repair, replantation of plexus roots, transfers, entrapments, and tumors. Future needs in nerve surgery are identified, including the development of new methodologies and additional research and outcome studies.