Platelet-rich plasma: why intra-articular? A systematic review of preclinical studies and clinical evidence on PRP for joint degeneration.

Purpose: The aim of this review was to analyze the available evidence on the clinical application of this biological approach for the injective treatment of cartilage lesions and joint degeneration, together with preclinical studies to support the rationale for the use of platelet concentrates, to shed some light and give indications on what to treat and what to expect from intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Methods: All in vitro, in vivo preclinical and clinical studies on PRP injective treatment in the English language concerning the effect of PRP on cartilage, synovial tissue, menisci, and mesenchymal stem cells were considered. A systematic review on the PubMed database was performed using the following words: (platelet-rich plasma or PRP or platelet concentrate or platelet lysate or platelet supernatant) and (cartilage or chondrocytes or synoviocytes or menisci or mesenchymal stem cells).

Osteochondral scaffold reconstruction for complex knee lesions: a comparative evaluation.

Background: The primary aim of the present study is to evaluate the results obtained in challenging knee lesions with the implant of an osteochondral scaffold and concomitant treatment of all comorbidities. The secondary aim is to compare the results obtained with those found when a chondral scaffold was applied.

Materials And Methods: Patients affected by complex lesions of the knee articular surface were included.

Matrix assisted autologous chondrocyte transplantation for cartilage treatment: A systematic review.

Objectives: Matrix-assisted autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT) has been developed and applied in the clinical practice in the last decade to overcome most of the disadvantages of the first generation procedures. The purpose of this systematic review is to document and analyse the available literature on the results of MACT in the treatment of chondral and osteochondral lesions of the knee.

Methods: ALL STUDIES PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH ADDRESSING MACT PROCEDURES WERE IDENTIFIED, INCLUDING THOSE THAT FULFILLED THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: 1) level I-IV evidence, 2) measures of functional or clinical outcome, 3) outcome related to cartilage lesions of the knee cartilage.

Unicompartmental osteoarthritis: an integrated biomechanical and biological approach as alternative to metal resurfacing.

Purpose: Although traditionally not indicated for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), regenerative procedures are becoming a focus of increased interest due to their potential to provide pain relief and alter the progression of degenerative diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess whether a combined biomechanical and biological approach could offer good results in unicompartmental OA, thus delaying the need for unicompartmental arthroplasty in patients too young or refusing metal resurfacing.

Methods: Forty-three patients (mean age = 40.

Cost-effectiveness and economic impact of the KineSpring® Knee Implant System in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in Italy.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the KineSpring System is a more effective treatment for knee OA when compared to other standard treatments, considering cost-utility ratios.

Methods: A literature search provided data on conservative and surgical treatment costs and functional outcome scores. The KineSpring System outcome scores were obtained from two trials.

Correlation of dynamic impact testing, histopathology and visual macroscopic assessment in human osteoarthritic cartilage.

Objective: Improved staging of cartilage degeneration is required, particularly during the early stages. We correlated mechanical properties with histological and macroscopic findings.

Methods: One hundred and twenty cartilage samples were obtained during total knee arthroplasty.

Proximal femural fractures: epidemiology.

The Authors report briefly about epidemiology and prognosis of proximal femoral fractures in elderly people worldwide. Focusing particurarly on Italian population, the Authors report on the impact that this pathologic phenomenon has on the quality of life of patients and on general population, also from a social and economical point of view. A concise overview of the options treatment is also presented.

The orthopaedic treatment of fragility fractures.

The purpose of this review is the presentation of the proper orthopaedic treatment of the most frequent fragility fractures associated with low bone mineral density or established osteoporosis. In this particular group of patients, the surgical treatment is difficult for the poor quality of the broken bone that limits the reduction, the hardware fixation and the physiologic process of bone healing. Other important problems are the postoperative management of old patients with chronic diseases and more prone to develop local and general complications with big difficulties to conduct a good rehabilitation program.

Relationship between os acromiale and acromioclavicular joint anatomic position.

Most of the orthopaedic literature on os acromiale is focused on the clinical implications, such as impingement and rotator cuff tears; although os acromiale is present in 8% of subjects, scarce information is reported on the causes that may predispose patients to it. Our aim is to investigate whether the origin of os acromiale is related to the position of the acromioclavicular (AC) joint. The acromions of 211 volunteers (control group) and 33 subjects without or with os acromiale were radiographically (axillary view) classified by the Edelson and Taitz method.

Unilateral laminectomy for bilateral decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis: a prospective comparative study with conservatively treated patients.

The authors performed single- or multiple-level unilateral laminectomy to treat lumbar spinal stenosis in patients with mild to moderate leg pain and compared the results with those from patients treated with conservative therapy in a prospective study. This decompression technique produced a 68% rate of improvement compared with a 33% rate for conservatively treated patients. The surgical group exhibited significant and sustained improvement, whereas the functional and clinical status of the conservatively managed group had returned to baseline during the same period.

Rotating knee prosthesis. Surface or hinge replacement?

Until the early 1990's our experience in Total Knee Replacement (TKR) was based on AGC 2000, Tricon M and MG implants. Starting from 1992 we decided to use a rotating knee prosthesis. At that time in Italy there were many knee replacement devices with rotating elements: Oxford, LCS, Rotaglide and Endomodel from Link.

Osteoid osteoma of the lateral cuneiform bone.

An unusual case of osteoid osteoma is reported emphasizing the necessity of a careful history and physical examination combined with an adequate imaging supply. Treatment was surgical with an en bloc excision of the lesion.