@libero.it
Orthopedics and Traumatology
Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù, IRCCS
Scopus Publications
Valeria Calogero, Michela Florio, Silvia Careri, Angelo Gabriele Aulisa, Francesco Falciglia, and Marco Giordano
MDPI AG
Background: Heel pain in children is a common condition. The aetiology can be ascribed to fractures, osteochondrosis, tendinitis, calcaneal-navicular or talo-calcaneal coalition, osteomyelitis, rheumatic diseases, anatomic variants, malignant tumours (osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma), and benign lesions (bone cyst, aneurismal bone cyst, osteoid osteoma, or exostosis). In particular, this manuscript focuses on a case of calcaneal exostosis in the paediatric age, aiming to highlight its rarity. Osteochondromas are benign tumours of the surface of the bone and the overlying cartilage. They grow until skeletal maturity and can cause stiffness, pain, cosmetic alterations, tendinitis, and neuro-vascular compression. The calcaneus is an extremely rare site for these tumours. Only two case reports of paediatric exostosis of the calcaneus bone are available. Methods: We describe a case of a girl of 16 years of age, affected by multiple cartilaginous exostosis, who presented with a painful mass on the inferior margin of the foot in the calcaneal region, which was diagnosed as an exostosis. The neoformation was excised, and the girl underwent clinical follow-up. Results: The patient was promptly discharged in good condition, and on the 25th postoperative day, she was completely pain-free and allowed weight bearing. Conclusions: In the case of heel pain resistant to conservative treatment, the presence of an osteochondroma should be considered after excluding more common causes. If symptomatic, calcaneal osteochondromas could require surgical excision.
Valeria Calogero, Angelo Gabriele Aulisa, Silvia Careri, Giulia Masci, Giuseppe Mastantuoni, Francesco Falciglia, and Renato Maria Toniolo
MDPI AG
Supracondylar fractures of the humerus are frequent paediatric injuries. The aims of this study were to evaluate the applicability and reproducibility of the Gartland and Wilkins classification, the Baumann angle (BA) and the Anterior Humeral Line (AHL). This retrospective monocentric observational study was conducted on 217 patients. Four observers assessed the pre-operative radiographs by applying the Gartland and Wilkins classification and the post-operative X-rays by measuring the BA and AHL. The kappa coefficient (K) and the Cohen’s kappa were used for the reliability of the Gartland classification; the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) for that of the BA. The AHL was evaluated in a double manner by using first the K and the Cohen’s kappa and then the ICC. A total of 186 patients were eligible. Inter-observer reliability for the Gartland classification was K = 0.73–0.61 for type III, 0.65–0.61 for type Ia and 0.43–0.26 for type IIb. The Baumann angle mean value in the first data collection was 73.5 ± 6.85 (inter-observer ICC 0.74) and 72.9 ± 6.83 (inter-observer ICC 0.77) for the second data collection; AHL: inter-observer ICC 0.87 for the first evaluation and 0.80 for the second one. Gartland’s classification modified by Wilkins has a high degree of reliability. BA and AHL appear reproducible and reliable.
Martina Marsiolo, Silvia Careri, Diletta Bandinelli, Renato Maria Toniolo, and Angelo Gabriele Aulisa
MDPI AG
Background: Scoliosis is a structured rotatory deformity of the spine defined as >10° Cobb. Functional scoliosis (FS) is a curve < 10° Cobb, which is non-rotational and correctable. FS is often secondary to leg length inequality (LLI). To observe vertebral rotation (VR) in functional scoliosis due to LLI, one must demonstrate a correlation between LLI, sacral shelf inclination (SSI), and VR and discover a predictive value of LLI capable of inducing rotation. Methods: We studied 89 patients with dorso-lumbar or lumbar curves < 15° Cobb and radiographs of the spine and pelvis. We measured LLI, SSI, and VR. The patients were divided into VR and without rotation (WVR) groups. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: The mean LLI value was 6.5 ± 4.59 mm, and the mean SSI was 2.8 ± 2.53 mm. The mean value of LLI was 5.2 ± 4.87 mm in the WVR group and 7.4 ± 4.18 mm in the VR group. The mean SSI value for WVR was 1.4 ± 2.00 and that for VR was 3.9 ± 2.39. For each mm of LLI, it was possible to predict 0.12° of rotation. LLI ±5 mm increased the probability of rotation (R2.08 p < 0.0016), while this was ±2 mm for SSI (R2 0.22 p < 0.01). Each mm of LLI corresponded to 0.3 mm of SSI (R2 0.29, p < 0.01). Conclusions: FS secondary to LLI can cause VR, and 5 mm of LLI can cause SSI and rotation.
M. Florio, S. Careri, C. Zoccali, A. G. Aulisa, F. Falciglia, R. M. Toniolo, and M. Giordano
Frontiers Media SA
The Giant Cell tumor (GCT) is a benign, locally aggressive lesion that cause bone destruction and shows a malignant potential. It is a relatively common skeletal tumor that is therefore typically seen in young adults. Few cases are described in literature of GCT in the immature skeleton, and the metatarsal is an unusual location for a primary bone GCT, especially in pediatric age. Therefore, there are very few data reported regarding the management protocol of GCT in metatarsal bones. We report a case about the use of no vascularized fibular graft for an original Y-shaped reconstruction of the metatarsal bone after Giant Cell Tumor resection in a 9 years-old patient, and performed a literature review about metatarsal bone reconstruction in skeletally immature patient.
Angelo Gabriele Aulisa, Marco Galli, Marco Giordano, Francesco Falciglia, Silvia Careri, and Renato Maria Toniolo
MDPI AG
Background: Patients with a better initial in-brace correction could show a higher probability of a successful outcome. However, no one has investigated whether parameters can affect the outcomes. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate if the initial correction rate (ICR) could be predictive of the bracing outcome and to determine the role of some mechanical and biological parameters in ICR. Methods: The study population comprised 449 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Curve correction > 10° Cobb defines brace treatment success. Success and failure groups were compared in terms of the Risser sign, initial Cobb angle, initial Perdriolle value and ICR. Results: ICR significantly correlates with initial Perdriolle. The success group had a significantly lower value of Pedriolle and initial Cobb angles, Risser sign and ICR than the failure group. The ICR and lower Risser were significantly associated with the brace treatment outcome. This seems particularly suitable for positivity prediction (Predicting value VP+: 87%). Conclusions: This study confirms that immediate in-brace correction can foretell the brace treatment outcome. Patients with a low Risser sign and a high rate of in-brace correction showed a bracing success of 87%. A correlation between rotation and in-brace correction confirms that rotation is among the parameters that influence the deformed spine reaction to corrective actions the most.
Carmine Zoccali, Silvia Careri, Dario Attala, Michela Florio, Giuseppe Maria Milano, and Marco Giordano
MDPI AG
For patients too young to be fitted with an expandable prosthesis, limb salvage surgery requires other strategies. The main problems are related to the impossibility of implanting an expandable prosthesis to the residual bone growth that is much too big in relation to the bone size, with the precocious implant loosening and/or the residual absence of bone growth, as well as the problem of limb length and shape difference. In this paper, we report a possible reconstruction solution using a composite prosthesis for an Ewing’s sarcoma of the proximal femur in an infant patient. After resection, a femoral stem was cemented into the distal third of a homoplastic humerus; a carbon fiber plate was used to stabilize the bone/homograft interface. At the one-year follow-up, the patient was free of disease and able to walk with only a slight limp. This case report describes a possible solution for very small patients. An adult humerus is of the right size to replace a child’s lower limb segments, and the distal humerus can be shaped, maintaining a cortex stiff enough to support a prosthesis. Very young patients might obtain a faster osteointegration of the graft than adults, due to their higher biological activity and, in this case, the diapasonal shape of the allograft might also have contributed to accelerated fusion. Moreover, the use of a graft to fit the prosthesis avoids loosening issues due to canal widening, hypothetically providing more growing time before system failure and revision surgery. However, although this technique is promising, further studies are necessary to confirm our findings and to verify if this procedure allows easier future prosthesis implantation.
Rocco De Vitis, Marco Passiatore, Andrea Perna, Silvia Careri, Vitale Cilli, and Giuseppe Taccardo
Elsevier BV
Introduction
This investigation is a prospective cohort study examining the use of Clostridium histolyticum collagenase injection (CCH) for the treatment of Dupuytren's disease (DD) with a 7 years follow-up.
Methods
Forty-five monodigital DD patients were injected with CCH on a single joint. Assessment included measurement of residual passive extension deficit (PED), function (using QuickDASH) and patient satisfaction.
Results
86.7% of PIPJ and 65.6% of MPJ had a worsening of PED. Nevertheless, thirty-nine patients (86.7%) concluded their treatment with only one injection, without any further treatment.
Conclusion
CCH provides a long-term effective solution. Recurrence occurs, especially in PIPJ, with acceptable rates.
Raffaele Vitiello, Andrea Bellieni, Maria Serena Oliva, Beatrice Di Capua, Domenico Fusco, Silvia Careri, Giuseppe Ferdinando Colloca, Carlo Perisano, Giulio Maccauro, and Marco Lillo
PAGEPress Publications
People over 65 years old are the fastestgrowing part of the population and also the most common population in oncological practice. The geriatric co-assessment when involved in the management of orthopedic elderly patients could improve the survival and clinical outcomes of the patients. The aim of this review is to understand the importance of comprehensive geriatric assessment in elderly cancer orthopaedic patients affected by bone and soft tissue sarcoma in order to apply it and identify the mean surgical prognostic factors of this population.
Raffaele Vitiello, Tommaso Greco, Luigi Cianni, Silvia Careri, Maria Serena Oliva, Marco Gessi, Ivan De Martino, Maria Beatrice Bocchi, Giulio Maccauro, and Carlo Perisano
PAGEPress Publications
Osteoma is a benign, slowly growing, asymptomatic, bone-forming tumor arising from cancellous or compact bone. Osteoma usually is a solitary lesion, but in patients with Gardner’s Syndrome it may be multiple. osteoma may rarely have a parosteal localization. Parosteal osteoma has peculiar radiographic, histologic and clinical features. We describe a case report of a 51- years old man with a bifocal parosteal osteoma of the femur in a non-syndromic patient. This is the first described patient with a bifocal lesion. In literature only 24 cases of paraosteal osteoma are found. Our patient underwent surgery and the lesions were fully excised. At one year follow-up there was no evidence of recurrence.
Antonella Coli, Silvia Careri, Marco Gessi, and Giulio Maccauro
Elsevier BV
Marco Giordano, Antonio Di Lazzaro, Vincenzo Guzzanti, Silvia Careri, Pietro Bagolan, Antonio M. Zaccara, and Renato M. Toniolo
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Bladder exstrophy is a congenital and rare malformation of the lower abdominal wall with exposure of the bladder mucosa to the external environment, and it is related to pelvis abnormalities. Eighteen patients with bladder exstrophy were treated with bilateral oblique pelvic osteotomy in conjunction with urologic reconstruction after they were stabilized by cast. No failure of midline closure was observed (wound dehiscence or recurrence of bladder exstrophy). Follow-up showed no leg length discrepancy or problems in walking. Bilateral oblique pelvic osteotomy is a safe procedure to treat bladder exstrophy, and it results in good orthopedic and urological function.
Y.-Q. Zheng, Y. Cui, S. Yang, Y.-P. Wang, Y. Qiu and W-L Hu
OBJECTIVE
Opa interacting protein 5 (OIP5), as a tumor promoter gene, has emerged as a regulator in several types of tumors. However, the role of OIP5 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has not been reported. In this study, we aimed to explore the expression and biological function of OIP5 in NPC.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
The lung cancer datasets GSE12452 and GSE53819 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository. Real-time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression levels of OIP5 mRNA. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony-formation assay, wound healing assay and transwell assay were conducted to measure cells' proliferation, migration and invasion. Flow cytometry was used for analysis of apoptosis. Western blot assays were used to assess the effects of OIP5 on EMT and JAK2/STAT3 pathway.
RESULTS
The up-regulation of OIP5 mRNA was observed in NPC tissues from both GSE12452 and GSE53819. The results of RT-PCR also showed that the expression of OIP5 mRNA was significantly up-regulated in several NPC cell lines compared to normal nasopharyngeal cells. Furthermore, lost-function assay revealed that the knockdown of OIP5 markedly suppressed NPC cells proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis. In addition, the results of Western blot showed that silencing of OIP5 suppressed the EMT in NPC cell line. Meanwhile, the knockdown of OIP5 remarkably decreased the expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein in both CNE1 and SUNE1 cells.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicated that OIP5 was highly expressed in NPC and promoted NPC progression by modulating JAK2/STAT3; our results shed light on utilizing OIP5 as a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of NPC.
S. Careri, R. Vitiello, M. S. Oliva, A. Ziranu, G. Maccauro and C. Perisano
OBJECTIVE
Wide diaphyseal bone defects, above all those infected, encounter into Masquelet technique a suitable treatment. The two-step procedure allows the surgeon to eliminate the infected tissues and then to promote new bone formation. We analyzed the literature about the use of the induced membrane technique in osteomyelitis and the innovations recently suggested.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We reviewed some of the most common web databases using the key-words: Masquelet technique, induced membrane, and osteomyelitis. 66 studies were analyzed.
RESULTS
Comparing the Masquelet technique to other surgical procedures it shows better functional results in large bone defects due to infection. The induced membrane is like a biological chamber that protects the autograft and induces new bone formation promoting growth factors secretion. Different authors tried to improve one or more steps of the surgical procedure. Some studies focused on polymethyl methacrylate role and the possibility to use different materials instead of cement to induce the membrane. Others analyzed the autograft harvesting and placing techniques trying to reduce the amount of bone essential to fill the gap, like the RIA technique. Moreover, bone substitutes have been used, as beta-tricalcium phosphate, that showed an osteoconductive ability.
CONCLUSIONS
The survey is not a systematic review. Nevertheless, new concepts are introduced and analyzed identifying 6 areas of interest and induced membrane technique development.
Andrea Piccioli, Fabrizio Donati, Giulio Di Giacomo, Antonio Ziranu, Silvia Careri, Maria Silvia Spinelli, Silvana Giannini, Giuseppe Giannicola, Carlo Perisano, and Giulio Maccauro
Elsevier BV
INTRODUCTION
Pathological fractures represent an adverse prognostic factor in primary and metastatic bone tumours. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of tumour silver-coated prosthesis implanted after pathological fractures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 patients with pathological limb fracture after primary or metastatic bone tumours treated by the same surgeon with wide margin resection and tumour prosthesis implant between 2005 and 2015. Silver-coated prostheses were implanted in 17 patients and uncoated prostheses were implanted in 13 patients. The primary outcome of the study was to evaluate the infective risk, the secondary outcomes were survival and functional level (visual analogue scale [VAS], 36-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF 36], and Musculoskeletal Tumour Society [MSTS] score) obtained at the longest follow-up available. A multivariate analysis was performed considering age, sex, tumour histology, grading and location, resection size, concomitant radiotherapy/chemotherapy, use of mesh for soft tissue reconstruction and local complications (dislocation, relapse, implant breakage). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of explanted prosthesis was performed to study the residual silver-coating.
RESULTS
The average age of patients in the study was 56.2 years (range 12-78 years). Silver-coated prostheses were implanted in 56.7% of patients, and uncoated tumour prostheses were used in the remaining 43.3%. The mean follow-up was 40.7 months. A total of 26.7% of patients died at a median time of 28.6 months after surgery. The overall rate of complications was 30%, with 16.7% due to infection. A total of 11.8% of the patients treated with silver-coated implants developed infection compared with 23.1% of the patients treated with uncoated tumour prostheses. There were no cases of early infection in the silver-coated prosthesis group, whereas early infection occurred in 66.7% of patients in the uncoated prosthesis group. All the functional outcomes were significantly improved after surgery. None of the other parameters analysed can be considered a significant negative prognostic factor for infection. The SEM analyses showed severe silver-coating degradation 2 years after first implant. No case of silver toxicity was demonstrated.
DISCUSSION
There are few papers in the literature about infective complications in tumour prosthesis after pathological fracture. Silver-coated implants showed a protective action against early infection. Late infection rate was similar between the groups, thereby indicating a reduction of antimicrobial activity for the silver-coating over time.
CONCLUSIONS
Silver-coated prostheses are a protective factor against early infections in limb salvage surgery after pathological fractures, so may represent the first-choice of implants in this type of surgery.
Maristella F. Saccomanno, Fabrizio Donati, Silvia Careri, Matteo Bartoli, Gabriele Severini, and Giuseppe Milano
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractPurpose
To assess the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injections and exercise-based rehabilitation (EBR) programme, administered as isolated or integrated for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.MethodsOne hundred sixty-five patients affected by moderate degrees of knee OA were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (HA) underwent three HA injections (one every 2 weeks); group 2 (EBR) underwent 20 treatment sessions in a month of an individualized programme; and group 3 (HA + EBR) received both treatments simultaneously. Primary outcome was the Italian version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index; secondary outcome was the evaluation of active range of movement (AROM). All patients were evaluated before and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. Significance was set at p < 0.05.ResultsTwo patients in each group were lost to follow-up. No adverse events occurred. All groups experienced improvements at 1-month follow-up. No further improvements could be detected within groups over time. At 1-month follow-up, WOMAC pain subscale showed significant improvement in group 3 compared to group 1 (p = 0.043). WOMAC pain, stiffness and function subscales showed that group 2 significantly worsened between 1 and 6 months after treatment (p = 0.004, p = 0.026 and p = 0.025, respectively). AROM revealed no significant differences between and within groups over time.Conclusions
Intra-articular HA injections and individualized rehabilitation programmes administered in isolation or in combination are effective in improving knee function and pain relief. The combined treatment showed the greatest pain relief at 1-month follow-up compared to either in isolation. Compared to the previous studies, this is the first study, which proposed an EBR programme tailored to the compartment of the knee joint most involved in the degenerative process.Level of evidenceI.
F. Donati, G. Di Giacomo, S. D’Adamio, A. Ziranu, S. Careri, MA. Rosa, and G. Maccauro
Hindawi Limited
Silver coating has demonstrated good antimicrobial activity and low toxicity. Silver-coated megaprostheses have been introduced in oncological musculoskeletal surgery considering the high rate of infection. We conducted a retrospective analysis on 68 cases of primary or metastatic bone tumors, affecting the proximal femur, treated between 2005 and 2016 with wide margins resection and tumor implants reconstruction. All patients were treated by the same surgeon, with antibiotic prophylaxis according to a standard protocol. In 55.9% of patients silver-coated hip hemiarthroplasty was implanted; in the remaining 44.1% uncoated megaprostheses were implanted. Patients were reevaluated recording the complications and focusing the analysis on infective complications. The average follow-up was 46.5 months. No patient has shown any sign of local or general silver toxicity. A SEM analysis was conducted on the 3-silver-coated hip hemiarthroplasty explanted confirming a severe degradation with a small amount of residual silver on the coating surface. Silver-coated hip prostheses have a lower rate of early infection than traditional implants but showed a reduction of antimicrobial activity for silver coating wear. We recommend using silver-coated prosthesis as primary implants for limb salvage surgery, in primary or metastatic bone tumors affecting the proximal femur, considering the absence of signs of toxicity and the lower rate of early infection.
Maristella F. Saccomanno, Silvia Careri, and Giuseppe Milano
Springer London
Arthroscopy is a reliable and effective minimally invasive technique that has gained popularity in the past 20 years among shoulder surgeons. Arthroscopic surgery requires specific and complex instruments whose evolution has followed that of the surgical procedures. These instruments are expensive, and therefore, proper utilization and maintenance are essential. Furthermore, different surgical procedures, such as rotator cuff repair and capsulorrhaphy, call for different instruments which are specific to the operation being performed. Many surgical instrument companies currently produce tools which are very similar to one another with only minor technical differences; the selection of the most appropriate instrumentation depends on the individual discretion of the surgeon. In fact, each arthroscopic surgeon generally has his own set of instruments.
Maristella F. Saccomanno, Silvia Careri, Matteo Bartoli, and Giuseppe Milano
Springer London
Giuseppe Milano, Maristella F. Saccomanno, Silvia Careri, Giuseppe Taccardo, Rocco De Vitis, and Carlo Fabbriciani
Elsevier BV
PURPOSE
To evaluate the efficacy of a marrow-stimulating technique with microfractures of the greater tuberosity during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
METHODS
Eighty patients with a full-thickness rotator cuff tear underwent an arthroscopic single-row repair. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 40 cases each. In group 1, standard repair was performed; in group 2, microfractures of the greater tuberosity were performed to enhance tendon repair. Clinical outcome was assessed with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score and normalized Constant score. Tendon integrity was assessed with magnetic resonance imaging. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine which predictors were independently associated with the outcome. Significance was set at P < .05.
RESULTS
The mean follow-up was 28.1 ± 3 months. Seven patients were lost to follow-up (2 in group 1 and 5 in group 2). Comparison between groups did not show significant differences for baseline characteristics. The mean DASH score was 28.6 ± 21.3 points in group 1 and 23.3 ± 20.1 points in group 2. Although the difference was not statistically significant, the confidence interval included a 10-point value (minimal clinically important difference) in favor of the microfracture group. The difference in the Constant score between groups was not significant. The tendon healing rate was 52.6% in group 1 and 65.7% in group 2, without a significant difference between groups. Subgroup analysis for tear size showed that group 2 had a significantly greater healing rate than group 1 for large tears (P = .040). Multivariate analysis showed that age, timing of symptoms, tear location, tendon retraction, and fatty infiltration significantly affected the outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging did not show any significant difference between groups in structural integrity. However, subgroup analysis showed a significantly greater healing rate in the microfracture group for large tears involving the supraspinatus and infraspinatus.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level I, high-quality randomized controlled trial with no statistically significant difference but narrow confidence intervals.