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Page 12 of 15 Gunderson et al. Plast Aesthet Res 2023;10:50 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-9264.2023.42

Figure 3. Histological Cross-Sections. Representative micrographs of the nerves of the dorsal aspect of the ovine thoracic limb from a
single animal (Proximal to distal). (A) Superficial radial nerve; (B) Lateral branch of the radial nerve; (C) Central branch of the radial
nerve; (D and E) Branches of the terminating branch of the dorsal ulnar nerve; (F) Lateral branch of the dorsal common digital nerve;
(G) Central branch of the dorsal common digital nerve; (H) Medial branch of the dorsal common digital nerve. Stain: Gomori’s
trichrome. Magnification x4, scale bar = 600 µM.

the hindlimb, which is remarkably complex. The standing orientation of the forelimb is more vertical than
that of the hindlimb and provides more even loading of the OI implant [16,8,10,17] . Further, equines and ovines
have a unique stay apparatus in their hindlimbs, which negates the use of the hindlimb as a load-bearing
model for prostheses. This apparatus is a delicate balance of tendons, ligaments, and muscles that both
passively and actively allow them to remain upright with minimal energy consumption [18,19] . If these are
transected in the hindlimb, as is the case during amputation, the animal will refuse to bear weight on the
limb entirely.

Caprines (goats) do not have such a stay mechanism, which makes a hindlimb model possible, as
[6]
Clites et al. have demonstrated . However, the caprine model has not been proven in longevity and
consistency as has the sheep model, particularly in the realm of OI. Additionally, sheep weight, size, and
bony remodeling have been demonstrated to be acceptably similar to that of humans, with specific data