angle of extension than contralateral knees. A P value of
≤0.05 was interpreted as statistically significant: contractures
had not fully reversed. Second, to detect the duration
of recovery that improved contracture: the mean
angle of extension of the experimental knees after each
duration of recovery was compared to that at the previous
duration of recovery using univariate analyses (recovery
1 vs 0, 2 vs 1, and 3 vs 2). A P value of ≤0.05 after
Bonferroni correction (given the same rats were included
in two different analyses) was interpreted as statistically
significant: a plateau had not been achieved
and this additional duration of recovery improved the
contracture. Third, we tested for a change with time in
the contralateral knee using an ANOVA for each contracture
severity; a P value of ≤0.05 was interpreted as
statistically significant. A confidence level of 95% was
used on all analyses.
Results
Thirteen rats required local wound care, of which 12 received
antibiotics; all 13 were treated and included. At
endpoint, data for 12 animals were not analyzed for persistent
fibrous adhesions, leg fracture during testing, extension
angle over 195° or images not recorded. Final
number of experimental animals was 238; the distribution
per group, fixation and recovery durations are
shown in Figure 1. The animal model created