Histological scoring of different groups at week 2, week 4 and week 8.

median (range).
Better total score was observed in the GFP-TDSC-Scx group compared to that in the GFP-Mock group which in turns was better than that in the Scaffold-only group. The total score was significantly better in the GFP-TDSC-Scx group compared to that in the Scaffold-only group at week 2. The better total score in the GFP-TDSC-Scx group was mainly contributed by the improvement in fiber arrangement, vascularity, fiber structure and degree of inflammation.
Footnote:
1Fiber arrangement: Only fibers with typical collagen birefringence of tendon are regarded as good; reported as the areal percentage of poor fibers.
0:0%; 1:≤10%; 2:≤30%; 3:>30%.
2Cellularity: calculated as the percentage increase in cellularity compared to normal tendon.
0:normal (0%); 1:≤50%; 2:≤150%; 3:>150%.
3Cell alignment: calculated as the areal percentage of cells not aligned along the direction of tensile load in tendon.
0:≤10%; 1:≤20%; 2:≤50%; 3:>50%.
4Cell rounding: calculated as the areal percentage of non-spindle-shaped cells.
0:0%; 1:≤10%; 2:≤30%; 3:>30%.
5Vascularity: calculated as the number of vascular features.
0:0; 1:≤5; 2:≤10; 3:>10.
6Fiber structure: calculated as the areal percentage with fibers that were separated and wavy.
0:straight and tightly-packed (0%); 1:slight waviness and fiber separation (≤10%); 2:moderate waviness and fiber separation (≤30%); 3:severe waviness and fiber separation (>30%).
7Hyaline degeneration: calculated as the areal percentage with chondrocyte-like cells or ossification or degeneration.
0:0%; 1:≤10%; 2:≤30%; 3:>30%.
8Inflammation: calculated as the areal percentage with inflammatory cells characterized as very small cells with small round nuclei and scanty cytoplasm.
0:0%; 1:≤2%; 2:≤10%; 3:>10%.
9Ossification: calculated as the areal percentage with ectopic ossification.
0:0%; 1:≤15%; 2:≤30%; 3:>30%.
10Total score: calculated by summing up the scores of item (a) to (i).
apost-hoc p≤0.050 versus Scaffold-only group.
bpost-hoc p≤0.050 versus GFP-TDSC-Mock group.
xpost-hoc p≤0.050 versus week 2.
ypost-hoc p≤0.050 versus week 4.
Italics un-bold symbol means marginally insignificant.