MATERIALS AND METHODS FOR NERVE REPAIR WITH ANIMAL-SOURCED NERVE GRAFTS

摘要

The subject invention pertains to materials, including sets of nerve grafts, for performing breast neurotization with xenograft nerves in breast surgeries, such as reconstructive breast surgery. Certain embodiments of the set of nerve grafts comprise at least two nerve grafts prepared from one or more nerves, such as one or more intercostal nerves (ICNs), obtained from one or more animal sources. Such animal-sourced nerve grafts may be used as xenografts in the reconstruction of nerve defects in humans, and in particular, animal-sourced ICN grafts may be used as xenografts in the reconstruction of ICN nerve defects in humans, including through use of the breast neurotization technique described herein. These animal-sourced nerve grafts may also be used in the reconstruction of nerve defects in animal recipients, including as xenografts, allografts and autografts.