Richard Dortch

Imaging guidance for nerve repair

A noninvasive, quantitative MRI method could be used after surgical repair of traumatic peripheral nerve injury to help clinicians make decisions about whether additional surgical interventions are needed.

Imaging nerve regeneration

Diffusion MRI may provide a noninvasive approach to assess nerve regeneration and distinguish successful from unsuccessful repairs earlier.

Studies aim to speed, track peripheral nerve recovery

Surgeons have limited tools to successfully repair and track the recovery of peripheral nerves that have been severely damaged as a result of a traumatic injury, but Vanderbilt investigators hope to change this through research studies recently funded with more than $3 million in grants from the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health.