Figure 3.

Change in weight distribution ratio determined as the ratio between the operated hind limb load and the total hind limb load. (a) Group A: defect only, 4 weeks, 1.6 mg/kg/day of tacrolimus; (b) Group B: total knee arthroplasty (TKA) sheet, 4 weeks, 0.8 mg/kg/day; (c) Group C: TKA sheet, 4 weeks, 1.6 mg/kg/day; (d) Group D: defect only, 12 weeks, 1.6 mg/kg/day; and (e) Group E: TKA sheet, 12 weeks, 1.6 mg/kg/day. (a) The ratio recovered to the value before surgery in transplantation groups B (p = 0.972) and C (p = 0.214) by Day 21 but never fully recovered by Day 28 in defect group A (p = 0.008). (b) The ratio recovered to the value before surgery by Day 21 in transplantation group E (p = 0.593) but worsened at Day 42 (p = 0.010) and never recovered fully by Day 84 in Group D (p = 0.015)