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Inter‐rater reliability of a novel neurobehavioral scale for outcomes assessment in rats following traumatic brain injury
Author(s) -
Loadholt Chary D,
Larson Brett E,
Andriakos Peter G,
Boas Stefan,
Trahan Tabitha E,
Tran Tram L,
Falls William A,
Hammack Sayamwong E,
Freeman Kalev
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.856.5
Robust outcomes measurements are required in studies of brain injury and should include clinically meaningful outcomes. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes not only discrete neurological lesions, but also behavioural and cognitive abnormalities. However, published neurological scales for rats rely on sensorimotor examination and do not include behavioural assessment. Our objective was to develop a simple neurobehavioral scoring system to quantify injury and recovery in a longitudinal fashion following TBI. Because rodents exhibit discernible signs of stress, such as red porphyrin discharge from Harderian glands in the orbit, piloerection, and hunched posture, we hypothesized that a scale that includes stress behaviours would have a high inter‐rater reliability (IRR). We used an iterative process to develop measures of outcomes assessment in a rat model of fluid percussion injury. Two observers consecutively and independently performed examinations of each rat at serial time points. The final 15‐point scale includes measurements of seven stressful behaviours and eight sensorimotor functions. For 30 rats randomized to TBI or sham surgery, IRR, calculated as agreement between observers at each point, was 0.79. Overall, the neurobehavioral scale is simple to use, has a high degree of reliability, and includes meaningful outcomes. Supported by the University of Vermont.