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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Rehabil. Sci.
Sec. Interventions for Rehabilitation
Volume 5 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fresc.2024.1421704

Psychology of Nerve Injury, Repair, and Recovery: A Systematic Review

Provisionally accepted
Yaw Adu Yaw Adu 1Cameron T. Cox Cameron T. Cox 2Evan J. Hernandez Evan J. Hernandez 2,3Christina Zhu Christina Zhu 1Zachary Trevino Zachary Trevino 3Brendan MacKay Brendan MacKay 2*
  • 1 School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, United States
  • 2 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center Amarillo, Amarillo, United States
  • 3 Department of Community, Family, and Addiction Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) are associated with significant physical and psychological challenges, impacting both functional recovery and quality of life. Despite the physical focus of traditional treatments, psychological factors play a crucial role in the outcomes of PNI repair and recovery.Objectives: This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of psychological and social factors on the repair and recovery of peripheral nerve injuries.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases, covering studies from January 1985 to December 2022. A total of 36,190 records were identified, and after screening with Rayyan AI and applying inclusion criteria, 111 articles were selected for review.The review highlights that pre-existing psychological conditions, as well as psychological responses to the injury and treatment, significantly influence recovery outcomes in PNI patients. Psychological interventions, when integrated into standard care, may improve functional recovery and quality of life.Conclusions: Psychosocial factors are critical in the management of PNIs and should be incorporated into treatment algorithms to enhance patient outcomes. Future research should focus on developing and integrating psychological support strategies in PNI treatment protocols.

    Keywords: Peripheral nerve injury (PNI), Psychological factors, psychosocial, peripheral neuropathy, Nerve repair, Nerve recovery

    Received: 08 May 2024; Accepted: 03 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Adu, Cox, Hernandez, Zhu, Trevino and MacKay. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Brendan MacKay, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center Amarillo, Amarillo, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.