Pre-Clinical Models of Traumatic Brain Injury-A Narrative Review Towards "Animal Neuro-ICUs"

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Trauma Research
• Translational Medicine

Background:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) significantly impacts mortality and long-term outcomes in severe trauma patients.
• Neurocritical care is crucial for managing brain injuries, but its application in preclinical research is limited.
• Enhancing the translational relevance of experimental TBI studies is vital for improving clinical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss strategies for improving the translational relevance of experimental TBI research.
• To highlight the importance of integrating neurocritical care principles in animal models of TBI.
• To address key factors influencing TBI study design and clinical applicability.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on experimental TBI research.
• Discussion of neurocritical care integration in animal models.
• Analysis of different animal models (large vs. small) and injury induction methods (CCI, FPI, weight-drop, blast).
• Exploration of the influence of age, comorbidities, and sex on TBI outcomes and experimental design.

Main Results:

• Preclinical TBI research often lacks neurocritical care integration, limiting its translational value.
• The choice of animal model, observation period, and injury induction method significantly affects study reproducibility and clinical relevance.
• Factors like age, comorbidities, and sex can influence TBI outcomes and need careful consideration in experimental design.

Conclusions:

• Integrating neurocritical care principles into preclinical TBI models is essential for improving translational fidelity.
• Careful selection of animal models, injury methods, and consideration of demographic factors can enhance the clinical relevance of TBI research.
• Future experimental TBI research should focus on designs that better reflect the complexities of human brain injury to improve patient outcomes.