Microsurgery of the peripheral nerve: a physiological approach.

Results with peripheral nerve injuries, which today still fall short of our goals, should intensify our efforts in this specialized field of microsurgery. We are living in an exciting era of functional reconstitution. Long gone are the times when a pink replanted digit or a successful free flap comprised the end-point of our surgical efforts. The direction from now on is toward achieving functional restoration by utilizing basic principles while armed with the unlimited potentials of reconstructive microsurgery. To this end we need the assistance and cooperation of other sciences since the enigma of the peripheral nerve can be deciphered only by a multidisciplinary approach.