Repair of peripheral nerve injury

1. A method for maintaining the pro-regenerative capacity of a distal nerve segment subsequent to a nerve injury, the method comprising injecting one or more stretch-grown TENG into a distal site in the distal nerve segment, wherein the one or more stretch-grown TENG facilitates axon growth and Schwann cell infiltration, thereby maintaining the pro-regenerative capacity of the distal nerve segment, wherein the nerve injury comprises an injury to a peripheral nerve of a subject.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve injury comprises the loss of a segment of nerve.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve injury comprises a nerve lesion of less than about 1 cm in length.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve injury comprises a nerve lesion of at least 1 cm in length.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve injury comprises a nerve lesion of at least about 3 cm in length.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve injury comprises a nerve lesion of at least about 5 cm in length.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve injury comprises multiple nerve lesions.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pro-regenerative capacity of the distal nerve segment is maintained for at least about 12 weeks.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pro-regenerative capacity of the distal nerve segment is maintained until at least such time as proximal nerve axons regenerate across the nerve injury.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein pro-regenerative capacity of the distal nerve segment is maintained until at least such time as proximal nerve axons reinnervate distal targets.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises a primary procedure for nerve repair.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method results in a greater degree of functional recovery following repair of PNI, as compared to the degree of functional recovery that occurs following the primary procedure alone.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is conducted in the absence of any other nerve repair.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve injury occurs as a result of a trauma.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve injury occurs as a result of a surgical procedure.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve injury occurs as a result of patient positioning during surgery.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve injury occurs as a result of a compression injury or a crush injury.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injury occurs as a result of a disease or condition relating to a loss of motor or sensory nerve function.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injury occurs as a result of a congenital anomaly.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injury occurs as a result of an amputation.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injury occurs as a result of complete or partial removal of an organ, tumor or tissue.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injury occurs as a result of a metabolic/endocrine complication, inflammatory disease, autoimmune disease, vitamin deficiency, infectious disease, toxin, exposure to organic metal or heavy metal, or administration of a medication or drug.

23. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a neurotrophic factor, culture supernatant, or cells to the distal nerve segment.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method does not comprise transecting a nearby healthy nerve.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method enhances the survival of Schwann cells in the distal nerve segment.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal site is at least about 3 cm away from the site of injury.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal site is less than least about 3 cm away from the site of injury.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises contacting multiple distal nerve segments with one or more stretch-grown TENG.