Nerve Repairs
Nerve repairs provide a safe, effective treatment for nerve damage caused by injuries and disease. At his practice in New Port Richey, Florida, John B. Fuller, MD provides several types of nerve repairs, including direct nerve repair, nerve grafting, and nerve transfer. Call the office today to schedule a nerve repair consultation, or book your appointment online.
What are nerve repairs?
Nerve repairs are orthopaedic procedures that repair or replace stretched, torn, compressed, or otherwise damaged nerves and nerve tissue. Your nerves are a complex system of “cables” that carry electrical signals to and from the brain—helping you feel sensations and move. Nerves also contribute to other bodily functions.
Minor nerve damage often improves with conservative treatments like therapy and medication. If damage is severe—or function is threatened— surgical repair may be necessary.
Are there different types of nerve repair surgery?
Yes. Dr. Fuller specializes in several types of nerve repair surgery, selected based on your injury pattern, anatomy, and goals.
Direct nerve repair
The first line of defense when feasible. Dr. Fuller reconnects the two ends of a nerve using sutures, stitches, or surgical glue depending on the location and injury.
Nerve grafting
A nerve graft uses healthy nerve tissue from another area of the body to bridge a gap in a severely damaged nerve—supporting healing and recovery.
Nerve transfer
If you aren’t a candidate for grafting, a healthy donor nerve is rerouted to connect to the damaged nerve to help restore movement and sensation.
What type of nerve repair is right for me?
Only a qualified orthopaedic surgeon can determine the right approach. After reviewing your records, discussing symptoms, and performing a focused exam, Dr. Fuller develops a personalized plan designed to relieve symptoms and restore nerve function.
Symptom history
Onset, injury mechanism, progression, and functional limitations.
Focused exam
Strength and sensation mapping to identify nerve involvement and severity.
Testing when needed
Imaging and/or nerve studies to guide a high-confidence plan.
Clear next steps
Conservative care when appropriate—advanced repair when it offers the best outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nerve repairs are procedures that repair or replace damaged nerves to relieve symptoms and restore function. Depending on the injury, options may include direct repair, grafting, or transfer.
Nerve repairs may be considered for severe nerve damage from trauma, tumors, entrapment/compression, or brachial plexus injury.
Direct nerve repair reconnects the two ends of a damaged nerve when feasible, often using sutures, stitches, or surgical glue.
Nerve grafting uses nerve tissue from another part of your body to bridge a gap in a severely damaged nerve, supporting recovery.
Nerve transfer reroutes a healthy donor nerve to help restore movement and sensation when grafting isn’t ideal for the injury pattern.
Clinical references
- Mayo Clinic: Peripheral nerve injuries (diagnosis & treatment). View source
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: Nerve transfer overview. View source
- AAOS OrthoInfo: Brachial plexus injuries. View source
- ASSH (American Society for Surgery of the Hand): Patient education on nerve injury. View source
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Diagnosis and treatment vary by patient.