Table 3.

Histological scoring of ligament constructs

Criterion	Observation (points)
Inflammation	No (2), only focally (1), generalized or focally pronounced (0)
Vascularity	Low (2), no/slightly increased (1), severely hyperemic (0)
Capsule	No (2), thin (1), thick (0)
Cellularity	Like ligament (2), increased or diminished in comparison to native ligament (0–1)
Cell distribution	Homogenous (2), inhomogeneous (1–0)
Cell morphology	Mainly elongated (ligamentocyte-like) (2),
	Many round cells (1),
	Mainly inflammatory cells (0), many debris (0)
Orientation	A trend of uniaxial order (ligament-like) (1)
	No major order (0),
Cell-to-ECM ratio	Few cells, many ECM (2),
	Many cells, many ECM (immature tissue) (1),
	Many cells, few ECM or several cell free areas (0.5),
	No ECM (0)
ECM	Dense (2), only moderately dense (1), loose (0)
Fatty tissue	No (2), yes (0–1)
Maximum count	19 points

Adapted from Lohan et al. (2018)