Tendon Healing: A Review of Basic Science and Current Progress

ABSTRACT

The tendon connects the muscles to the bones and transmits the loads generated by the muscles to the bones to move the joints, support the joints, and provide stability to the joints. Approximately 30% of patients complaining of musculoskeletal pain are associated with tendon disease, and approximately 50% of musculoskeletal injuries are caused by a tendon injury. Despite this frequent treatment of tendon damage, studies on the basic biology that provide scientific evidence for treatment, such as development, tendon injury, and healing, are still very limited. This review first summarizes the classification and composition of the tendon identified so far, the surrounding tissue, and the blood supply to the tendon. The limitations of the tendon recovery process after a tendon injury are also discussed.Finally, this review examines ways to improve tendon recovery and the biological approaches and tissue engineering that have been currently studied. In conclusion, innovative progress in promoting tendon healing has not been achieved despite the many advances in the basic structure of the tendon, and the cell and regulatory molecular factors involved in tendon recovery. Biological approaches and tissue engineering, which have become a recent issue, have shown many possibilities for the recovery of damaged cases, but further research will be needed until clinical application.