title: Acute ankle sprain in a mouse model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ankle sprains remain the most common orthopedic pathology. Conducting long-term studies in humans is difficult and costly, so the long-term consequences of an ankle sprain are not entirely known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to develop and test a mechanical ankle instability model in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male mice (CBA/2J) were randomly placed into one of three groups: the transected calcaneal fibular ligament (CFL) group, the transected anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL)/CFL group, and a SHAM group. Three days after surgery, all of the mice were individually housed in a cage containing a solid surface running wheel, and daily running wheel measurements were recorded. Before and after surgery, measures of balance and gait were measured on all mice for 4 wk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mice in the ATFL/CFL group had significantly decreased duration (P = 0.0239), distance (P = 0.013), and speed (P = 0.003) compared with the SHAM group during week 1. During weeks 2 and 3, the ATFL/CFL group had significantly less distance (P = 0.0001) and duration (P = 0.002) compared with the SHAM and CFL-only group. The transection of the lateral ankle ligaments did affect the number of slips experienced during the balance test. The ATFL/CFL group had greater slips at 1 and 4 wk postsurgery (P = 0.05), whereas the CFL-only group had greater slips at 3 d and 1 wk postsurgery (P = 0.05). Relative to the SHAM group, the ATFL/CFL group and CFL-only group had smaller right-stride lengths (involved limb) at 3 d postsurgery (P = 0.05). The ATFL/CFL group also had smaller right-side stride lengths at 1 and 4 wk postsurgery (P = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that a mouse model can be used to induce mechanical instability in the ankle.
authors: Biodynamics Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA. thubbar1@uncc.edu
authors: Tricia
authors: T
authors: Hubbard-Turner
authors: Erik A
authors: EA
authors: Wikstrom
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Guderian
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Turner
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology