Gait Biomechanics:AClinically Relevant Outcome Measure for Preclinical Research of Musculoskeletal Trauma.

Traumatic injuries to the musculoskeletal system are the most prevalent of those suffered by United StatesMilitary Service members and accounts for two-thirds of initial hospital costs to the Department of Defense. These combat-related wounds often leave survivors with life-long disability and represent a significant impediment to the readiness of the fighting force.There are immense opportunities for the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TE/RM) to address these musculoskeletal injuries through regeneration of damaged tissuesas a means to restore limb functionalityand improve quality of life for affected individuals.Indeed, investigators have made promising advancements in the treatment for these injuries by utilizing small and large preclinical animalmodels to validate therapeutic efficacy of next generation TE/RM based technologies. Importantly, utilization of a comprehensive suite of functional outcome measures, particularly those designed to mimic data collected within the clinical setting, is critical for successful translation and implementation of these therapeutics.To that end, the objective of this review is to emphasizethe clinical relevance and applicationof gait biomechanics as a functional outcome measure for preclinical research studies evaluating the efficacy of TE/RM therapies to treat traumatic musculoskeletal injuries. Specifically, common musculoskeletal injuries sustained by Service members - including volumetric muscle loss, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, and composite tissue injuries - are examined as case examples to highlight the use of gait biomechanics as an outcome measure usingsmall and large preclinical animal models. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.