Deep behavioral phenotyping tracks functional recovery following tibia fracture in mice.
Journal:
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Published Date:
May 14, 2025
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: An estimated 178 million fractures occur worldwide each year, with lower limb fractures in particular showing a high incidence of poor healing, and these often lead to reduced mobility and chronic pain. Bone healing and the ability to bear weight are closely tied to the mechanical stability of the fracture site. Although fracture stabilization is a well-established factor modulating the rate and extent of bone repair, there is a notable gap in non-destructive technologies that can rapidly and objectively quantify functional recovery in preclinical settings. We consider this to be a significant limiting factor in translational studies directed at improving fracture healing. Here, we describe a novel behavioral phenotyping approach that enables rapid quantification of post-fracture weightbearing and kinematic metrics in freely behaving mice. Our goal is to identify and characterize metrics most indicative of fracture-induced behavioral impairment and to use these metrics to quantify how functional recovery is altered in mice with pin stabilized versus non-stabilized fractures. We also use this approach to explore whether sex is a significant contributor to functional recovery.
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