[The treatment of skin ulcers in systemic sclerosis: use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in 26 patients].

Objectives: To verify the effectiveness of G-CSF in the treatment of non-healing skin lesions in SSc patients.

Methods: 26 SSc patients (23 F and 3 M, age 54 +/-13,6 yrs) with skin ulcers were enrolled in a pilot study. Prior to the treatment with G-CSF, all ulcers failed to heal with conventional therapies carried out for a period of 1-5 years.

[Diffuse post-traumatic calcification of the anterior longitudinal ligamentum of cervical and dorsal spine].

Among the different conditions causing inflammation and calcification/ossification of the soft tissues of the spinal cord, single or recurrent traumatic events are included. Within the international literature, the involvement of the posterior longitudinal ligament, following spinal cord injuries is frequently reported, especially in the elders. The Authors describe here an uncommon calcification/ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament occurred after a double traumatic event in a young man, followed clinically and radiologically for a long-term period.