title: Toe out angle: a functional index for the evaluation of sciatic nerve recovery in the rat model.
abstract: In experimental peripheral nerve studies, the rat sciatic nerve model is widely used to examine functional outcome following nerve injury and repair. A variety of evaluation methods exist in the literature, but an adequate selection continues to be a critical point for the researcher. Rats with sciatic nerve injury typically ambulate with an external rotation of the foot. A new functional assessment instrument, the toe out angle (TOA) is quantified using computerized gait analysis. We compared Sciatic Functional Index (SFI) with TOA parameter after peripheral nerve transection and entubulation repair. We found a good correlation between SFI and TOA measurements in terms of predicting functional recovery. Moreover, the TOA provides information on the biomechanical consequences of the external rotation of the foot in the stance phase of walking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Veterinary Clinics, CETAV, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal. avarejao@utad.pt
authors.forename: Artur S P
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Varejão
authors.forename: António M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cabrita
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geuna
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Melo-Pinto
authors.forename: Vitor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Filipe
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gramsbergen
authors.forename: Marcel F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Meek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005684:Gait; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000503:physiopathology; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013643:Tarsus, Animal / Q000503:physiopathology