Table 2.

Description of the variables included in the Bayesian network

Variable description	Node acronym	Variable type	States description
Sex	Sex	Discrete	Female; male
Age at surgery (years)	Age	Continuous	≤ 40; 41–60; ≥ 61
Diagnosis	Hernia	Discrete	Yes; no
Duration of drop foot before surgery	Duration	Continuous	≤ 30; > 31
Pretibialis anterior	Pre-TA	Discrete	0 or 1; 2 or 3−
Leg pain	Pain	Discrete	Yes; no
Cauda equina syndrome	Cauda equina	Discrete	Yes; no
Number of involved levels	Number of levels	Discrete	Multiple; single
Posttibialis anterior	Post-TA	Discrete	< 3; ≥ 3 or < 4; ≥ 4

Pretibialis anterior = preoperative tibialis anterior muscle strength; posttibialis anterior = postoperative tibialis anterior muscle strength.