Which statement about the maturation/remodeling phase is true?

• A. It occurs only in the first week.
• B. It ends with complete normalization of tissue.
• C. It lasts 1-2 weeks.
• D. It can last several weeks to several years.

Answer: (D)

Healing after injury moves into a long-term remodeling phase where the tissue gradually matures and strengthens. In this stage, the collagen laid down during repair is reorganized: type III becomes type I, cross-links increase, and the fibers reorient to align with the direction of functional load. As a result, tissue stiffness and tensile strength improve over time, but this progress continues well beyond the initial weeks and can extend for months or even years, depending on the tissue, injury severity, and how loading is progressed in rehabilitation.

That’s why the statement describing remodeling as lasting several weeks to several years is the most accurate. It isn’t confined to the first week, it doesn’t culminate in complete normalization, and it isn’t typically limited to a 1–2 week window—the remodeling process is a prolonged, gradual maturation of the scar tissue.