# Graft harvest as a model of tendon injury; Trajectory of recovery and clinical outcomes

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2022 · $127,027

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
My career goal is to bridge the gap between tendon basic science and clinical research to optimize treatment of tendon
injuries, using individualized load and recovery prescription. To achieve this goal and fill gaps in my experience, I have
designed a development plan which will provide training and mentorship in administration of clinical trials and large
multicenter studies, applying and interpreting mixed-effects models, and understanding of tissue biology. The research
activities will provide complimentary experience and pilot data to establish myself as an independent clinician-scientist.
Rationale: Healthy tendon function is critical to preserving quality of life. Overuse tendon injuries are rampant across
society, occurring at a rate exceeding hip and knee osteoarthritis combined. These injuries impact the structural and
mechanical properties of the tendon, which reduces tendon function, lower extremity performance, participation in daily
activities, and ultimately, quality of life. Treatments for tendon injuries are designed to promote tendon remodeling, with
the goal of restoring structure, mechanical properties, and tendon function. However, pain is the primary measure used
to assess treatment effectiveness in clinical settings, which is a poor measure of tendon remodeling. Thus, clinicians are
using interventions without the ability to determine whether the application is appropriate, increasing the risk of residual
impairments and injury recurrence. This gap between research and the clinic is due to a poor understanding of tendon
tissue changes in humans and their clinical implications. Changes in tendon structure and mechanical properties precedes
the development of symptoms, making it difficult to capture pre-injury values of these properties. Without pre-injury
values, it has not been possible to determine the degree of change due to injury, the expected trajectory of recovery, or
how these changes relate to clinical outcomes. The tendon graft harvest site may provide a new model for studying tendon
injuries, providing the opportunity to capture pre-harvest measures of structural and mechanical properties.
Specific Aims: (1) To identify changes in graft site structure after graft harvest. (2) To identify changes in graft site
mechanical properties after graft harvest. (3) To determine the association between changes in graft site structural and
mechanical properties with clinical outcomes after graft harvest.
Methods: This will be an ancillary, single-site, prospective cohort study of participants in the STABILITY 2 Trial at the
University of Pittsburgh, which aims to identify optimal graft choice in patients at high risk of failed anterior cruciate
ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Evaluations will be completed pre-surgery, and 6 weeks, 3-, 6-, 12- and 24-months after
ACLR with a patellar or quadriceps tendon graft to evaluate changes in graft site structural and mechanical properties,
quadriceps muscle per...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10417618
- **Project number:** 1K23AR080741-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Andrew L Sprague
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $127,027
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10417618

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10417618, Graft harvest as a model of tendon injury; Trajectory of recovery and clinical outcomes (1K23AR080741-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10417618. Licensed CC0.

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