title: Static footprint analysis: a time-saving functional evaluation of nerve repair in rats.
abstract: Walking track analysis is a widely accepted technique for functional evaluation after sciatic nerve repair in rats, but it is labour-intensive. In 2000, Bervar described a time-saving digitised static footprint analysis. In that study there were good correlations between the traditional sciatic function index (SFI) and the newly-developed static sciatic index (SSI) and static toe spread factor (TSF), respectively. Despite promising results, static footprint analysis is still not widely used. The present study was designed to validate it. After transection of the sciatic nerve, end-to-end repair was assessed using video recorded dynamic and static footprints in 45 Wistar rats. We found an even better correlation between the SFI and both the SSI and the static TSF. In conclusion, static footprint analysis is a time-saving and easy technique for accurate functional assessment of peripheral nerve regeneration in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands. x.smit@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Xander
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Johan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van Neck
authors.forename: Menno J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ebeli
authors.forename: Steven E R
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hovius
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*