Injuries of the peripheral nervous system are common among the population affecting around 3% of all trauma patients. This high clinical need in the field of peripheral nerve injury and regeneration has been steadily driving experimental and epidemiological research. Thereby, it is crucial to determine the exact degree of recovery of end-organ function. Regeneration after nerve injuries is assessed by a wide variety of techniques and pre-clinical model systems, where rodent models are among the most widely used. However, results from rodents are difficult to translate to human patients in general, and reproducible and comparable assessment of functional recovery is of highest importance. Computerized gait analysis allows comprehensive acquisition of locomotor function. As the animals cross the recording device voluntarily, functional recovery is assessable with a minimum degree of human interference on their behavior. This article aims to give a detailed overview on the existing literature on CatWalk gait analysis in rodent models of peripheral nerve injuries of upper and lower extremities, e.g. axonotmesis, neurotmesis or fibrosis, with special emphasis on differences between models. Researchers interested in assessment of locomotor function in such models will especially benefit from this work as it will provide them with an overview of the various experimental setups and expected outcomes. This work also addresses potential pitfalls and hurdles in order to promote well designed, comparable studies allowing for accelerated development of therapeutic strategies in peripheral repair and regeneration.

周围神经系统损伤在人群中很常见，影响了所有创伤患者的约3％。周围神经损伤和再生领域中的这种高临床需求一直在稳步推动实验和流行病学研究。因此，确定终末器官功能的确切恢复程度至关重要。神经损伤后的再生可通过多种技术和临床前模型系统进行评估，其中啮齿动物模型是使用最广泛的模型之一。但是，啮齿动物的结果通常很难转化为人类患者，因此功能恢复的可重复性和可比性评估至关重要。电脑步态分析可全面获取运动功能。当动物自愿通过录音设备时，可以通过对人的行为进行最小程度的干预来评估其功能恢复。本文旨在详细概述有关上下肢周围神经损伤（例如轴突，神经痛或纤维化）的啮齿动物模型的CatWalk步态分析的现有文献，并特别强调模型之间的差异。对此类模型中的运动功能评估感兴趣的研究人员将从这项工作中特别受益，因为它将为他们提供各种实验设置和预期结果的概述。这项工作还解决了潜在的陷阱和障碍，以促进设计良好，可比的研究，从而加快发展外周修复和再生的治疗策略。