Sciatic nerve injury model in rabbits: What to expect. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Farinas, Angel F; Stephanides, Michael; Kassis, Salam; Keller, Patrick; Colazo, Juan M.; Thayer, Wesley P.
• Is Part Of: Laboratory animals. Volume 54:Number 6(2020)
• Page Start: 559
• Page End: 567
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: behavior -- cost–benefit analysis -- distress -- ethics and welfare -- laboratory animal welfare -- policy -- pressure ulcers -- reduction; Animal experimentation -- Periodicals; Animal models in research -- Periodicals; Laboratory animals -- Periodicals; Animal welfare -- Periodicals; 636.0885
• DOI: 10.1177/0023677219898481
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0023-6772

Abstract

Rabbits are commonly used for sciatic nerve injuries larger than 1.5 cm. This report provides insight into risks and benefits associated with using rabbit models in sciatic nerve injury models and proposes interventions that researchers can use to prevent experimental complications. Fifty-six rabbits from a sciatic nerve injury study that involved a 40 mm sciatic nerve injury were analyzed to examine postoperative complication rates. Autophagy of the phalanges and plantar pressure ulcer development were the most common and serious complications faced. These complications led to 23.2% ( n = 13) of rabbits not being used for data in the original experiment due to euthanasia outside of intended postoperative time points. This increased the cost needed to complete the experiment by $25, 038.44. It is our recommendation that alternative models be used instead of rabbits for sciatic nerve injuries. If rabbits must be used, a treatment protocol for preventing autophagy and pressure ulcers is outlined below.