Inter- and intraobserver reliability of walking-track analysis used to assess sciatic nerve function in rats.
The inter- and intraobserver reliability of the walking-track analysis of sciatic nerve function in the rat was assessed. Twenty-five walking tracks were assessed on three different occasions by four observers. Whereas the interobserver reliability was found to be excellent (r = 0.92), the intraobserver reliability was only satisfactory (r = 0.53 to r = 0.76). Walking-track analysis provides a noninvasive technique to assess function recovery in the rat, with excellent intraobserver reliability demonstrated. The lower intraobserver reliability suggests limitations to this new measurement technique.
Brown
C J
CJ
Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Evans
P J
PJ
Mackinnon
S E
SE
Bain
J R
JR
Makino
A P
AP
Hunter
D A
DA
Hare
G
G
D000818:Animals; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014034:Toes / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016138:Walking