What is the duration of the inflammation phase in tendon healing?

• A. Minutes to hours
• B. 1-6 weeks
• C. Several months
• D. Immediately to 4 days

Answer: (A)

The correct answer is that the duration of the inflammation phase in tendon healing typically spans from immediately after the injury to about four days. This initial phase is crucial as it involves the body's immediate response to the injury, which includes the recruitment of various inflammatory cells to the site of trauma. These inflammatory cells help to clear out debris, prevent infection, and begin the healing process.

During this period, signs such as swelling, warmth, pain, and redness are prominent as part of the body's protective mechanisms. This acute inflammatory response generally lasts up to four days, setting the stage for subsequent phases of healing, such as the proliferative and remodeling phases.

The other durations provided do not accurately reflect the typical timeframe for the inflammation phase in tendon healing—whether the options suggest a much longer duration of several weeks or months, which would correspond more to the later stages of healing rather than the immediate inflammatory response. Thus, the appropriate range for the inflammation phase is indeed from immediately following the injury to about four days later.