Figure 1.

Representative surgical exposure for crush injury method and CMAP recording. (a) Exposure of the sciatic nerve (white arrow shows measured crush site 10 mm proximal to the sciatic nerve trifurcation point). (b) Crushing the sciatic nerve using #5 jewelers’ forceps applying constant force in a vertical direction for 30 s, followed by horizontal compression for an additional 30 s. (c) Verification of crush injury site with preserved nerve continuity (white arrowhead). (d) Custom spacer designed to implement 30 g of stretch to the nerve at the predetermined notch while crush is simultaneously performed (white arrowhead stretch–crush site). (e) Stretch–crush injury site (white arrowhead) after custom spacer removal; note that nerve continuity is preserved. (f) Bipolar direct stimulation and recording electrodes in gastrocnemius muscle setup for NCV and CMAP recording. CMAP, compound muscle action potential; NCV, nerve conduction velocity.