Donated Nerve Tissue

What is Nerve Tissue?

Nerve tissue is found in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It is responsible for coordinating and controlling many body activities. 

The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system (CNS), which receives and reads signals from your body's other nerves, called the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Peripheral nerves are like wires – they transfer signals across a vast network and deliver data from tissues and organs to and from the brain to every part of the body. Peripheral nerves can be donated after death and used for transplant.

How is Donated Nerve Tissue Used?

Donated nerve tissue can be used to treat individuals with a peripheral nerve injury that has resulted in pain and loss of motor function and/or sensation.

In trauma, disease, and sometimes surgery, nerve tissue can be damaged. Donated nerve tissue can be used to repair this damage allowing the patient to regain full or partial sensory and motor function, including the restoration of sensation following a mastectomy and breast reconstruction. 

Nerve tissue recipients can experience life-changing results that significantly improve motor function, sensation, and quality of life.