American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

What is the time frame for the remodeling phase of wound healing?

1. Days 1-10

2. Days 5-21

3. 3 weeks to 1 year

4. 1-2 years

The correct answer is: 3 weeks to 1 year

The remodeling phase of wound healing is a crucial part of the healing process, where collagen is reorganized, and the wound gradually gains strength and function. This phase typically begins around three weeks after the initial injury and can continue for an extended period, often lasting up to one year or even longer. The remodeling phase is characterized by the synthesis and degradation of collagen, which helps to strengthen the tissue. During this time, the wound area adapts to the physical stresses it experiences and can regain up to 80% of its original strength, though it may never return to the full strength of uninjured tissue. The other time frames mentioned are more representative of the inflammatory and proliferative phases, which occur much earlier in the wound healing process. Both of these earlier phases are involved in the initial response to injury and lay the groundwork for the longer-term remodeling that occurs over months to years. Thus, the correct time frame of three weeks to one year captures the essence of the remodeling phase accurately.