Fig. 1.

Schematic representation of interventions. In the first operation (upper panel), in all groups, the common peroneal nerve (CPN) is proximally transected and left unrepaired. In group B, distal side-to-side (STS) neurorrhaphy is performed without intentional axonal injury to the nerves. In group C, donor axonal injury to the extent of half of the nerve is done to the donor nerve inside the epineural windows and side-to-side anastomosis is performed similarly to the previous group. After 26 weeks, the second operation (lower panel) is performed similarly in all groups; proximal injury is repaired in an end-to-end fashion. The red marks show the nerve biopsy sites