Multiscale computational model of Achilles tendon wound healing: Untangling the effects of repair and loading
Fig 4
Model predictions of the effects of loading in unrepaired versus suture-repaired tendons also match experimentally observed tissue-level measures.
(A) Schematic of rat Achilles tendon transection injuries left unrepaired or repaired with sutures. (B,D) Studies [12,13,36] that tested both unloading (light color) and loading (dark color) conditions in either unrepaired (dashed blue lines) or repaired (solid red lines) tendons showed a lower Young’s modulus in the loaded, suture-repaired case and similar values in the other groups (B), the same trend predicted for collagen alignment by the model (C). Experimental data showed higher tendon cross-sectional area with loading regardless of repair status (D), matching model predictions of total collagen (E).