Biomechanical comparison between stainless steel, titanium and carbon-fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone volar locking plates for distal radius fractures.

Introduction: As the popularity of volar locked plate fixation for distal radius fractures has increased, so have the number and variety of implants, including variations in plate design, the size and angle of the screws, the locking screw mechanism, and the material of the plates.

Hypothesis: Carbon-fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) plate features similar biomechanical properties to metallic plates, representing, therefore, an optimal alternative for the treatment of distal radius fractures.

Materials And Methods: Three different materials-composed plates were evaluated: stainless steel volar lateral column (Zimmer); titanium DVR (Hand Innovations); CFR-PEEK DiPHOS-RM (Lima Corporate).

Comparison between absorbable pins and mini-screw fixations for the treatment of radial head fractures Mason type II-III.

Background: The treatment of comminuted radial head fractures can include prosthetic replacement or open reduction and internal fixation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of two different internal fixation systems for Mason type II-III radial head fractures.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2015, 82 patients were treated using pins and 65 patients by mini-screws.

Reconstruction of Traumatic Dorsal Loss of the Thumb: Four Different Surgical Approaches.

Background: This article outlines our methods for thumb reconstruction following dorsal skin loss injury located between the metacarpophalangeal joint (MPj) and the entire nail affecting skin, nail, tendon, and bone in different combinations but with intact sensate palmar skin.

Methods: Between 1990 and 2015, 24 patients were treated for dorsal thumb defects using 4 different surgical techniques. Five cases of dorsal compound traumatic loss were reconstructed by custom-made dorsal great toe transfer.

Interposition Arthroplasty Versus Hematoma and Distraction for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Trapeziometacarpal Joint.

Background: Various surgical techniques were reported with excellent result for the treatment of trapeziometacarpal joint arthritis. However, the best treatment option was not defined yet.

Methods: This randomized prospective study compared the result of two surgical techniques: tendon interposition arthroplasty (64 patients) and K.

Clinical outcome is not affected by total knee arthroplasty alignment.

Purpose: This study aims to analyse the influence on total knee arthroplasty (TKA) clinical outcomes of biomechanical intra-operative computer-assisted surgery-measured parameters, together with radiographic and demographical data.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2009, 227 computer-assisted surgery (CAS) primary TKAs were performed in 219 consecutive patients. Information about gender, age and body mass index (BMI) was collected for each patient.

Corrective osteotomies of the radius: Grafting or not?

Aim: To review the current literature regarding corrective osteotomies to provide the best evidence of the rule of bone grafting.

Methods: Our MEDLINE literature search included 280 studies using the following key words "Malunited distal radius fracture" and 150 studies using key words "Corrective osteotomy of the distal radius". Inclusion criteria were: Malunited distal radial, extra articular fracture, volar locking plate, use of iliac bone graft (cancellous or corticocancellous), non-use of bone graft.

Distal triceps tendon repair using Krakow whipstitches, K wires, tension band and double drilling technique: a case report.

Introduction: The management of distal triceps tears must address each patient's medical and functional status: in general, the literature has described satisfactory nonsurgical treatment in tears less than 50%. Tears greater than 50% are treated nonsurgically in a sedentary person and surgically in active patients. Complete tears are generally managed surgically: most reported repair techniques describe the use of Bunnell or Krakow whipstitch techniques, passing the sutures through transosseous drill holes in the ulna.

In vivo kinematics of medial unicompartmental osteoarthritic knees during activities of daily living.

Few studies exist describing unicompartmental osteoarthritic knee kinematics. Moreover, the role of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the determination of knee kinematics has not been fully described. The objective of the current study was to analyze the in vivo kinematics of knees with medial osteoarthritis (OA) and intact ACL during closed and open chained motion.

Schwannomas of the upper extremity: analysis of 34 cases.

Background: Schwannomas are the most common benign tumours developing in peripheral nerves. They usually present as a slow-growing mass, sometimes associated with pain and paraesthesia. The aim of this study is to define the correct preoperative diagnosis, to review the surgical treatment employed and to evaluate short- and long-term neurological deficits.

Distal biceps tendon rupture reconstruction using muscle-splitting double-incision approach.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical and functional results after repair of distal biceps tendon tears, following the Morrey's modified double-incision approach.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 47 patients with distal rupture of biceps brachii treated between 2003 and 2012 in our Orthopedic Department with muscle-splitting double-incision technique. Outcome measures included the Mayo elbow performance, the DASH questionnaire, patient's satisfaction, elbow and forearm motion, grip strength and complications occurrence.

Pediatric medial epicondyle fractures with intra-articular elbow incarceration.

Background: Intra-articular incarceration of the epicondylar fragment occurs in 5-18 % of all cases of medial epicondyle fracture. It requires stable fixation to allow early motion, since elbow stiffness is the most common complication following medial epicondyle fracture. In this retrospective study, we report the clinical and functional outcomes and the complications that occurred following open reduction and screw fixation of medial epicondyle fractures with intra-articular fragment incarceration.

A new volar plate made of carbon-fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketon for distal radius fracture: analysis of 40 cases.

Background: Implants based on the polyetheretherketon (PEEK) polymer have been developed in the last decade as an alternative to conventional metallic devices. PEEK devices may provide several advantages over the use of conventional orthopedic materials, including the lack of metal allergies, radiolucency, low artifacts on magnetic resonance imaging scans and the possibility of tailoring mechanical properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results at 12-month follow-up using a new plate made of carbon-fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketon for the treatment of distal radius fractures.

Malunited extra-articular distal radius fractures: corrective osteotomies using volar locking plate.

Background: Multiple techniques for corrective osteotomy have been developed in recent years with the same aims: to improve the radiographic parameters and improve motion, pain and grip strength. Volar fixed-angle plates have added a new concept to the treatment of distal radius fractures thanks to the low morbidity of the surgical approach and the strength of the final construct, allowing early mobilization and return to function.

Materials And Methods: Between 2005 and 2012, 20 patients with symptomatic dorsally malunited extra-articular fractures of the distal radius underwent corrective osteotomy using a volar locking plate without additional bone graft.

Simple and comminuted displaced olecranon fractures: a clinical comparison between tension band wiring and plate fixation techniques.

Introduction: The purpose of this retrospective study is to compare the clinical, functional outcome and complications occurrence between tension band wiring (TBW) and plate fixation both for simple and comminuted displaced olecranon fractures.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2005 and June 2012 (minimum 1-year follow-up), 78 consecutive patients with Mayo type IIA and IIB fractures were treated with the following methods: tension band wire or plate and screws fixation. The primary outcome of this study was the functional outcome, assessed by the following self-administered evaluation scales: the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand, and the Mayo Elbow Performance Score.

Development of the Italian version of the Pain Stages of Change Questionnaire in patients with chronic low back pain: cross-cultural adaptation, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability and validity.

Translating, culturally adapting and validating the Italian version of the Pain Stages of Change Questionnaire (PSOCQ-I) to allow its use with Italian-speaking patients with low back pain. The PSOCQ-I was developed by forward-backward translation, a final review by an expert committee and a test of the prefinal version to establish its correspondence with the original English version. Psychometric testing included confirmatory factor analysis, reliability by internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and test-retest reliability (intraclass coefficient correlation), and construct validity by comparing PSOCQ-I with the Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS), the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), the Roland Morris Disability Scale (RMDQ), a pain Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Pearson's correlation).

Design and kinematics in total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: Posterior stabilised (PS) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) design development that focused on restoring normal knee kinematics was followed by the introduction of reason-guided motion designs. Although all PS fixed-bearing knee designs were thought to have similar kinematics, reports show they have differing incidences and magnitudes of posterior femoral rollback and axial rotation. In this retrospective comparative study between two guided-motion total knee systems, we hypothesised that kinematic pattern has an influence on clinical and functional outcomes.

The Italian version of the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory: cross-cultural adaptation, factor analysis, reliability and validity.

Purpose: To create an Italian version of the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory (PBAPI-I) and evaluate its psychometric properties.

Methods: The PBAPI was culturally adapted in accordance with international standards. The psychometric testing included factor analysis, investigating reliability by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test/retest stability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC), and exploring construct validity by comparing the PBAPI-I with a pain numerical rating scale (NRS), the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS) and the Chronic Pain Coping Inventory (Pearson's correlation).

Management of displaced radial neck fractures in children: percutaneous pinning vs. elastic stable intramedullary nailing.

Background: The treatment of radial neck fractures in children varies according to the displacement, angulation, and skeletal maturity. There is a general agreement that displaced radial neck fractures with more than 30° angulations (Judet type III and IV fractures) should be surgically treated. There are several treatment possibilities for Judet type III and IV fractures including percutaneous pin reduction, elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN), and open reduction with or without internal fixation.

Can TKA design affect the clinical outcome? Comparison between two guided-motion systems.

Purpose: In a retrospective comparative analysis in patients undergoing primary guided-motion total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the authors have evaluated whether different TKA implant design would influence the clinical and functional outcomes.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2009, 227 computer-assisted primary TKAs were performed in 219 consecutive patients. Patients received one of the two different fixed-bearing guided-motion TKA designs assisted by navigation surgery: the Scorpio Non-Restrictive Geometry (NRG) knee system and the Journey Bi-Cruciate Stabilized (BCS) knee systems.

Results of replantation of 33 ring avulsion amputations.

Purpose: Despite microsurgical advances, it is still difficult to achieve satisfactory functional results in cases of replantations following complete ring avulsion amputations. Our aim is to report the experience we have collected since the early 1990s in the treatment of this type of injury.

Methods: We replanted 33 fingers on 33 patients (age, 15-54 y) with complete ring avulsion amputation injuries.

Volar plate fixation for the treatment of distal radius fractures: analysis of adverse events.

Objectives: Determining the rate of specific adverse events after volar plating performed for distal radius fractures.

Design: Retrospective.

Setting: University level I trauma center.

A new volar plate DiPhos-RM for fixation of distal radius fracture: preliminary report.

We analyzed the efficiency of a new plate DiPhos-RM in CFR-PEEK [carbon-fiber-reinforced poly (etheretherketone)] for the volar fixation of distal radius fractures. The new plate's composition has the advantage of x-ray absolute transparency, therefore allowing to monitor the healing of the fracture. The desired combination of high strength and low rigidity is obtained through the use of the polymer composites CFR-PEEK.

Treatment of the ulna non-unions using dynamic compression plate fixation, iliac bone grafting and autologous platelet concentrate.

Clinical study of a series of ten patients treated between 2004 and 2009 for non-unions of the ulna. The patients have been treated with osteosynthesis using a dynamic compression plate and biological enhancement of the consolidation using bone graft and autologous platelet injection. The follow-up consisted of clinical and radiographic assessment.