Simulation-based training in ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia for emergency physicians: insights from an Italian pre/post intervention study.

Background: Despite the importance of Ultrasound-guided Regional Anaesthesia (UGRA) in Emergency Medicine (EM), there is significant variability in UGRA training among emergency physicians. We recently developed a one-day (8 h), simulation-based UGRA course, specifically tailored to help emergency physicians to integrate these skills into their clinical practice.

Methods: In this pre/post intervention study, emergency physicians attended a course consisting of a 4-hour teaching on background knowledge and a practical part structured as follows: a scanning session on a healthy individual; a needling station with an ex-vivo model (turkey thighs); a simulation-based learning experience on local anaesthetic toxicity (LAST); a session on the UGRA simulator BlockSim™.

Assay of Secondary Anisotropy in Additively Manufactured Alloys for Dental Applications.

Even though additive manufacturing (AM) techniques have been available since the late 1980s, their application in medicine is still striving to gain full acceptance. For the production of dental implants, the use of AM allows to save time and costs, but also to ensure closer dimensional tolerances and higher repeatability, as compared to traditional manual processes. Among the several AM solutions, Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) is the most appropriate for the production of metal prostheses.

Development of an education campaign to reduce delays in pre-hospital response to stroke.

Background: Systematic reviews call for well-designed trials with clearly described intervention components to support the effectiveness of educational campaigns to reduce patient delay in stroke presentation. We herein describe the systematic development process of a campaign aimed to increase stroke awareness and preparedness.

Methods: Campaign development followed Intervention Mapping (IM), a theory- and evidence-based tool, and was articulated in two phases: needs assessment and intervention development.

Prophylactic use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement in primary total knee replacement.

Despite significant advances in intraoperative antimicrobial procedures, deep infection remains the most devastating complication following total joint arthroplasty. Clinical studies' results and safety profile of antibiotic-loaded bone cement are discussed in this review. Antibiotic bone cement prophylaxis is a safe and effective strategy in reducing the risk of deep infection following primary total joint arthroplasty.

Infectious and thromboembolic complications of arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Hypothesis: This study investigates the rate of infectious and thromboembolic complications in shoulder arthroscopy and their association with pharmacologic prophylaxis.

Materials And Methods: On behalf of the Italian Society for Knee Surgery, Arthroscopy, Sport Traumatology, Cartilage and Orthopaedic Technologies (SIGASCOT), we asked the members to complete an on-line Web survey about their experiences and strategies of prophylaxis in shoulder arthroscopy.

Results: In the period 2005-2006, 9385 surgeries were performed.

Randomization procedures in orthopaedic trials.

Historically, the surgical literature has lacked in reports of randomized clinical trials. This deficit is now being addressed, but the best methods are not always followed. One opportunity for improvement is in the area of randomization.