Spared nerve injury

Rats underwent a spared nerve injury (SNI) procedure, as described previously.^22,24 During the procedure, rats were anesthetized (isoflurane 1.5%–2%). An inferomedial incision was made from the left knee, and the biceps femoris was dissected to expose the sciatic nerve bundle with its three terminal branches: sural, common peroneal, and tibial nerves. The tibial and peroneal nerves were severed and tied off with nonabsorbent 5–0 silk sutures at the proximal point of the trifurcation and then cut distal to each knot to prevent reattachments. The sural nerve was spared. The muscle layer was then sutured closed with 4–0 absorbable sutures and the skin was closed with 3–0 silk sutures. Rats were allowed to recover for at least one week after surgery.