Traumatic peripheral nerve injury is a dramatic condition present in many of the injuries to the upper and lower extremities. An understanding of its physiopathology and selection of a suitable time for surgery are necessary for proper treatment of this challenging disorder. This article reviews the physiopathology of traumatic peripheral nerve injury, considers the most used classification, and discusses the main aspects of surgical timing and treatment of such a condition.7110811814Hudson, A.R., Hunter, D., Timing of peripheral nerve repair: Important local and neuropathological factors (1977) Clin Neurosurg, 24, pp. 391-405Deitch, E.A., Grimes, W.R., Experience with 112 shotgun wounds of the extremities (1984) J Trauma, 24, pp. 600-603Noble, J., Munro, C.A., Prasad, V.S., Midha, R., Analysis of upper and lower extremity peripheral nerve injuries in a population of patients with multiple injuries (1998) J Trauma, 45, pp. 116-122Campbell, W.W., Evaluation and management of peripheral nerve injury (2008) Clin Neurophysiol, 119, pp. 1951-1965Grant, G.A., Goodkin, R., Kliot, M., Evaluation and surgical management of peripheral nerve problems (1999) Neurosurgery, 44, pp. 825-840Schmid, D.B., Salyapongse, N., Nerve injury and repair (2008) Curr Orthop Pract, 19, pp. 475-480Torigoe, K., Tanaka, H., Takahashi, A., Awaya, A., Hashimoto, K., Basic behavior of migratory Schwann cells in peripheral nerve regeneration (1996) Exp Neurol, 137, pp. 301-308Hall, S., Nerve repair: A neurobiologist's view (2001) J Hand Surg (Br), 26, pp. 129-136Gordon, T., Chan, K.M., Sulaiman, O.A.R., Udina, E., Amirjani, N., Brushart, T.M., Accelerating axon growth to overcome limitations in functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury (2009) Neurosurgery, 65, pp. 132-144Robinson, L.R., Traumatic injury to peripheral nerve (2000) Muscle Nerve, 23, pp. 863-873Spinner, R.J., Kline, D.G., Surgery for peripheral nerve and brachial plexus injuries or other nerve lesions (2000) Muscle Nerve, 23, pp. 680-695Weber, R.V., McKinnon, S.E., Bridging the neural gap (2005) Clin Plast Surg, 32, pp. 605-616Isaacs, J., Treatment of acute peripheral nerve injuries: Current concepts (2010) J Hand Surg (Am), 35, pp. 491-497Harris, M.E., Tindall, S.C., Techniques of peripheral nerve repair (1991) Neurosurg Clin North Am, 2, pp. 93-104Rowshan, K., Jones, N.F., Gupta, R., Current surgical techniques of peripheral nerve repair (2004) Operat Tech Ortop, 14, pp. 63-170Sunderland, S., The anatomic foundation of peripheral nerve repair techniques (1981) Orthop Clin North Am, 12, pp. 245-266Dahlin, L.B., Nerve injuries (2008) Curr Orthop, 22, pp. 9-16Katzman, B.M., Bozentka, D.J., Peripheral nerve injuries secondary to missiles (1999) Hand Clin, 15, pp. 233-244Manord, J.D., Garrard, C.L., Kline, D.G., Sternbergh III, W.C., Money, S.R., Management of severe proximal vascular and neural injury of the upper extremity (1998) J Vasc Surg, 27, pp. 43-47Thomsen, N.O.B., Dahlin, L.B., Injury to the radial nerve caused by fracture of the humeral shaft: Timing and neurobiological aspects related to treatment and diagnosis (2007) Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg, 41, pp. 153-157Dvali, L., McKinnon, S., The role of microsurgery in nerve repair and nerve grafting (2007) Hand Clin, 21, pp. 73-81Sulaiman, W.A.R., Kline, D.G., Nerve surgery: A review and insights about its future (2006) Clin Neurosurg, 53, pp. 38-47