Behavioral analysis after sciatic nerve compression in albino rats

BACKGROUND: Walking track analysis which has been widely used to examine the recovery of gait functions in rats with sciatic nerve injury. PURPOSE: The present study was aimed to objectively analyze and quantify the degree of functional recovery in locomotor behavior of rats after inflicting sciatic nerve crush injury. METHODS: Wistar rats trained on various runways, viz., narrow beam, grid and staircase, were subsequently tested following sciatic nerve crush injury. RESULTS: Locomotor ability of injured rats on runways gradually recovered to the level that was not significantly different from their corresponding preoperative level by the sixth postoperative week. Conclusion: Conventional run ways can be objectively used for quantification of the level of recovery.