{
  "abstract": "Objective: To evaluate quantitative gait analysis in a sheep model (Ovis aries) of in-utero spina bifida repair. Method: Using a 3D marker-based motion capture system, we quantified spatiotemporal gait parameters and hindlimb joint angles in a sheep model of in-utero spina bifida repair and normal controls. A linear support vector machine classifier, trained and tested on subject-disjoint partitions with individual gait cycles as the unit of analysis, evaluated the relationship between hindlimb joint angles and clinician-assigned Texas Spinal Cord Injury Scale scores. Linear mixed-effects models compared spatiotemporal parameters, hoof height, and hip drop across 3- to 6-month evaluations and between groups. Results: In treated (n=14) and control (n=3) lambs, front- and hindlimb gait speed differed by timepoint (both p=0.025). Across 1,632 left and 1,661 right hindlimb gait cycles, held-out classification accuracy was 85.9% and 88.6% (Cohen's {kappa}=0.78 and 0.84) for left and right hindlimbs, respectively, against majority-class proportions of 76.5% and 75%. Left hindlimb hip drop differed between treated lambs and controls ({Delta}=0.8 cm, p=0.027). Between-group contrasts were considered exploratory given the small control group. Conclusion: Quantitative gait analysis was feasible in an in-utero spina bifida repair model. Hindlimb kinematic profiles classified clinical ambulation scores above the majority-class baseline.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Division of Fetal Intervention, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX 77030"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "T.-Y. Chou"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Pandiri"
    },
    {
      "name": "P. Zandiyeh"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. A. Figueroa Fernandez"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. Lai"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. Papanna"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "L. K. Mann"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4r82ftqt9p5xh.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.16.752110",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.16.752110v1.full",
  "id": "4r82ftqt9p5xh",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.16.752110v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "bioengineering"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2739|Spinal Dysraphism and Malformations"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213538336",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.16.752110v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-16",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4r82ftqt9p5xh.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:23:04Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.16.752110",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.16.752110v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:bioengineering",
      "subfield": "systems-synthetic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Quantitative Gait Analysis in a Sheep Model of In-Utero Spina Bifida Repair",
  "title_text": "Quantitative Gait Analysis in a Sheep Model of In-Utero Spina Bifida Repair",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:23:04Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4r82ftqt9p5xh",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}