Introduction

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS consists of the brain, spinal cord and the first two cranial nerves, while the remaining cranial nerves and the spinal nerves constitute the PNS. The CNS and PNS have fundamentally different responses to injury, the CNS having little ability to regenerate, while the PNS has considerable potential for recovery if conditions are favourable. This chapter deals mainly with surgical disorders of the PNS. Injuries to peripheral nerves have a major effect on the functional outcome after trauma, and therefore careful management from an early stage is important to obtain the best results possible.