Table 2. Histological scoring guides.

Qualitative scoring guides used for histological scoring of each section based on the work of Hedberg et al. [7], Jansen et al. [15], and Mistry et al. [9]

Bone growth within scaffold pores
Description	Score
Tissue in pores is mostly bone	4
Tissue in pores consists of some bone with fibrous tissue and/or a few inflammatory response elements	3
Tissue in pores is mostly fibrous tissue (with or without bone) and young fibroblasts invading the space with few macrophages present	2
Tissue in pores consists mostly of inflammatory cells and connective tissue components in between (with or without bone) OR the majority of the pores are empty or filled with fluid	1
Tissue in pores is dense and exclusively of inflammatory type (no bone present)	0
Bone contact at interface
Description	Score
Direct bone to implant contact without soft tissue interlayer	4
Remodeling lacuna with osteoblasts and/or osteoclasts at surface	3
Majority of implant is surrounded by fibrous tissue capsule	2
Unorganized fibrous tissue (majority of tissue is not arranged as a capsule)	1
Inflammation marked by an abundance of inflammatory cells and poorly organized tissue	0
Polymer degradation
Description	Score
Abundant degradation – almost complete degradation or complete fragmentation	4
Marked degradation – several cracks in implant with presence of several fragments throughout implant	3
Moderate degradation – some cracks in implant and/or some fragments towards edges and outer surface	2
Minimal degradation – some minor dissolution on edges, minor cracks in implant and/or small fragments present	1
No degradation – Completely intact polymer	0