Can Severed Nerves Be Reconnected?

Sometimes a section of a nerve is cut completely or damaged beyond repair. Your surgeon can remove the damaged section and reconnect healthy nerve ends (nerve repair) or implant a piece of nerve from another part of your body (nerve graft). These procedures can help your nerves to regrow.

Can severed nerves be reattached?

“If you sever your finger, it can be surgically reattached, and nerve fibers typically grow back so that you can use your finger again,” says Schnaar. “In contrast, the injured brain and spinal cord are rocky terrain for nerve fiber growth,” he says.

Is a severed nerve permanent?

Because the nerve lies within a protective canal, if the nerve is cut or broken, while the canal remains intact, it is possible that the nerve fibers will grow back eventually, but if the canal is also severed, then surgical intervention is necessary to repair the damage.