Floating elbow injuries in adults: prognostic factors affecting clinical outcomes.

Background: Floating elbow fractures in adults are rare and complex injuries with unpredictable outcomes. The present study was designed to assess our experience, analyze possible compilations and illustrate prognostic factors of the final outcome.

Methods: Between 2002 and 2009, 19 patients with floating elbow fractures were treated in our department (mean follow-up, 26 months).

Functional outcome and structural integrity following mini-open repair of large and massive rotator cuff tears: a 3-5 year follow-up study.

Background: Mini-open approach has been considered for years the gold standard for rotator cuff repairs. Nevertheless, the rate of tendon-to-bone healing, and that of cuff re-tear, still remains unclear.

Methods: Between 2001 and 2004, 37 shoulders (32 patients) with a mean age of 54.

Idiopathic scoliosis. Segmental fusion with transpedicular screws.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the surgical correction of the scoliotic curve with the use of segmental pedicle screw fixation system is effective. We studied 20 patients (19 girls, 1 boy) with a mean age of 14,6 years (range from 13 to 22). The spinal deformities were evaluated by Cobb method with anteroposterior and lateral bending radiographs.

Replacement of deficient acetabulum using Burch-Schneider cages. 22 patients followed for 2-10 years.

The absence of good bone stock with massive acetabular deficiency has been a major problem in both revision hip arthroplasty and in primary arthroplasty for congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH). 22 patients (24 hips; 21 revision and 3 primary replacements: mean age 58 years) with substantial bone loss underwent acetabular reinforcement with Burch-Schneider cages. Classification of acetabular deficiency was made according to the AAOS system.