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What is Wallerian Degeneration?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: Mar 03, 2024

Wallerian degeneration is a pattern of damage in nerve fibers where the axon of a nerve breaks down because of a lesion damaging the core. When lesions appear along the nerves, the opposite or distal ends can experience Wallerian degeneration. The nerve cells will attempt to grow and regenerate unless a scar or similar obstacle prevents them from doing so. In the peripheral nervous system, regrowth tends to be more rapid than in the central nervous system.

The process starts with an injury to a nerve like a cut or crush, or degeneration caused by neurological disease. Within around a day, the fibers at the other end of the nerve start to atrophy and pull apart because they do not receive sufficient nutrition. If the nerve supplies a muscle, it can grow weak and small. This can happen on a small or large scale, and may result in numbness, tingling, and other unusual sensations for the patient.

After Wallerian degeneration, small sprouts appear and attempt to reach across the gap left behind after the nerve fibers fall apart. If they are successful, they will jump across, restoring sensation and function to the area. The new nerves may not work quite as well, and the muscle can experience lingering weakness. When scars or other obstacles are in the way, the growing structures may not be able to find their way across, leaving the gap in place. The muscle will continue to atrophy because it is not receiving enough signals from the nerves.

For physicians, understanding the process of Wallerian degeneration is important. The extent of nerve damage can take several days to become apparent as nerves break down, and patients may experience symptoms for months or years because the nerves do not grow back properly, or fail to grow back at all. When working around the nerves, surgeons are careful to avoid creating lesions, and take note of any erosion of the myelin sheath or other problems that might contribute to Wallerian degeneration.

It is possible to use surgery to guide new nerve fibers if they have trouble successfully growing back. This procedure requires a neurologist with substantial experience and training, and can be a very delicate operation. When working with nerves, surgeons want to avoid creating a worse problem than the one the patient started with. In some cases, it is not possible to encourage regeneration and the patient will experience a permanent loss of sensation and function.

The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a The Health Board researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By anon353385 — On Oct 30, 2013

If I have the inferior alveolar nerve cut, will I get Wallerian degeneration. Will all the nerves near this nerve degenerate? And all the trigeminal nerves? Will it degenerate until it reaches a neuron in the brain? I already had few teeth extracted years ago and did not lose my trigeminal nerve.

By Bertie68 — On Aug 03, 2011

@PinkLady4 - I share your fascination with the ability of nerves in their attempts to reconnect after a nerve is damaged by injury or a neurological condition. It seems like the damage to the nerve happens very quickly, but the healing of the nerve (many times not a complete healing) takes a long time, but can happen.

Yes, it's really too bad that the body can begin the healing process of damaged nerves, but often can't completely reconnect the nerve fibers and make the nerves function properly.

If I had Wallerian degeneration, I think I would be reluctant to have surgery. I would be afraid that it would be too delicate of an operation and too much of a risk. One might come out in worse shape than they started.

By PinkLady4 — On Aug 02, 2011

It's fascinating how various parts of the body attempt to heal or put themselves back together. This is true when nerves are damaged. If nerves are severed, like in Wallerian degeneration, they make attempts to reach out and connect with their other parts.

If only the body was better at connecting damaged nerves and getting them to work again. A friend of mine has some kind of nerve damage that is causing muscle deterioration and weakness in her hands and fingers. The doctor told her to give it some time to heal on its own. But eventually, surgery may be necessary.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

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