CatWalk XT Gait Parameters Associated with Mouse Achilles Tendon Injury and Healing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Orthopedics
• Animal Locomotion Analysis

Background:

• Tendons have limited healing capacity, leading to persistent functional deficits.
• Traditional mechanical testing for tendon function is terminal, requiring numerous animals for longitudinal studies.
• Gait analysis offers a non-terminal alternative for longitudinal assessment of tendon function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify relevant and reproducible gait parameters for assessing Achilles tendon injury and healing using the CatWalk XT system.
• To establish a reliable, non-terminal method for longitudinal tracking of tendon function in animal models.
• To reduce animal usage in tendon research by optimizing functional assessment methods.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the CatWalk XT rodent locomotion system to measure gait parameters in sham and Achilles tendon-injured mice.
• Collected data longitudinally from pre-operation to 56 days post-injury.
• Validated gait findings with terminal micro computed tomography (micro-CT) and mechanical testing.

Main Results:

• Identified specific, reproducible gait parameters significantly associated with Achilles tendon injury and healing.
• Demonstrated the utility of gait analysis for longitudinal monitoring of functional recovery.
• Confirmed persistent tendon impairment at 56 days post-injury via micro-CT and mechanical testing.

Conclusions:

• The CatWalk XT system provides a valuable tool for reproducible, longitudinal assessment of Achilles tendon injuries.
• Recommended specific gait parameters and control comparisons for future tendon research.
• This approach conserves animal use while upholding high standards of reproducibility in tendon injury studies.