Eugenio Annibale Genovese

Ultrasound-guided removal of foreign bodies: personal experience.

Foreign bodies (FBs) retained in the soft tissues are a common reason for medical consultation, and usually consist of wooden or metal splinters or glass shards. Failure to remove foreign bodies is likely to give rise to acute or late complications, such as allergies, inflammation or infection, that may be severe. The surgical removal of an FB is invasive, costly and technically challenging. The procedure may fail in some cases and carries the risk of complications. Our study describes a technique for the ultrasound-guided removal of an FB, devised from our experience, and demonstrates its advantages over the standard surgical procedure. Sixty-two patients (43 males and 19 females aged from 9 to 65xa0years, median age 31xa0years) presented at our institution between October 2005 and June 2008 with suspected foreign bodies retained in the soft tissues of various body districts. Radiographic and/or ultrasound diagnosis was established by a radiologist expert in musculoskeletal sonography. The same radiologist helped by a nurse subsequently undertook the ultrasound-guided removal in the outpatient’s clinic according to the technique described in the paper. ATL 5000 and PHILIPS iu22 ultrasound systems were used with high-frequency linear-array probes, sterile material, local anaesthetic (lidocaine 2%), scapels and surgical forceps. Antibiotic prophylaxis with amoxicillin and clavulanic acid were prescribed to all patients for 7xa0days after the procedure. Ninety-five FBs (39 glass, 35 metal, 17 vegetable, 2 plastic, 2 stone) were successfully removed under ultrasound guidance in all patients and the procedure took between 15 and 30xa0min. No complications arose either during or after the procedure. Seventy-five skin incisions were made and the wounds closed with Steri-Strips in 73/75 cases, whereas skin sutures were used in 2/75 cases. No complications arose either during or after the procedure. Ultrasound-guided removal of an FB retained in the soft tissues is a good alternative to surgery as is its relatively straightforward, inexpensive, repeatable and carries a low risk of complications. In addition, failure to remove an FB does not preclude traditional surgical removal. The advantages of this real-time procedure and the use of small instruments minimize bleeding time and avoid injury to surrounding structures. Patient compliance is enhanced by the fact that the procedure has little or no aesthetic impact. These encouraging results suggest ultrasound-guided removal as a first-choice procedure for the extraction of foreign bodies.

Comparison of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound and Computed Tomography in Classifying Endoleaks After Endovascular Treatment of Abdominal Aorta Aneurysms: Preliminary Experience

The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in endoleak classification after endovascular treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurysm compared to computed tomography angiography (CTA). From May 2001 to April 2003, 10 patients with endoleaks already detected by CTA underwent CEUS with Sonovue® to confirm the CTA classification or to reclassify the endoleak. In three conflicting cases, the patients were also studied with conventional angiography. CEUS confirmed the CTA classification in seven cases (type II endoleaks). Two CTA type III endoleaks were classified as type II using CEUS and one CTA type II endoleak was classified as type I by CEUS. Regarding the cases with discordant classification, conventional angiography confirmed the ultrasound classification. Additionally, CEUS documented the origin of type II endoleaks in all cases. After CEUS reclassification of endoleaks, a significant change in patient management occurred in three cases. CEUS allows a better attribution of the origin of the endoleak, as it shows the flow in real time. CEUS is more specific than CTA in endoleak classification and gives more accurate information in therapeutic planning.

Ultrasound-Guided Injection of a Corticosteroid and Hyaluronic Acid A Potential New Approach to the Treatment of Trigger Finger

AbstractBackground and Objectives: Stenosing tenosynovitis (trigger finger) is one of the most common causes of pain and disability in the hand, which may often require treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injection, or open surgery. However, there is still large room for improvement in the treatment of this condition by corticosteroid injection. The mechanical, viscoelastic, and antinociceptive properties of hyaluronic acid may potentially support the use of this molecule in association with corticosteroids for the treatment of trigger finger. This study examines the feasibility and safety of ultrasound-guided injection of a corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid compared, for the first time, with open surgery for the treatment of trigger finger.n Methods: This was a monocentric, open-label, randomized study. Consecutive patients aged between 35 and 70 years with ultrasound-confirmed diagnosis of trigger finger were included. Patients were randomly assigned to either ultrasound-guided injection of methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg/mL with 0.8mL lidocaine into the flexor sheath plus injection of 1mL hyaluronic acid 0.8% 10 days later (n = 15; group A), or to open surgical release of the first annular pulley (n = 15; group B). Clinical assessment of the digital articular chain was conducted prior to treatment and after 6 weeks, and 3, 6, and 12 months. The duration of abstention from work and/or sports activity, and any treatment complications or additional treatment requirements (e.g. physiotherapy, compression, medication) were also recorded.n Results: Fourteen patients (93.3%) in group A had complete symptom resolution at 6 months, which persisted for 12 months in 11 patients (73.3%), while three patients experienced recurrences and one experienced no symptom improvements. No patients in group A reported major or minor complications during or after corticosteroid injection, or required a compression bandage. All 15 patients in group B achieved complete resolution of articular impairment by 3 weeks after surgery, but ten patients were assigned to physiotherapy and local and/or oral analgesics for complete resolution of symptoms, which was approximately 30–40 days postsurgery. The mean duration of abstention from work and/or sport was 2–3 days in group A and 26 days in group B.n Conclusions: Although the limited sample size did not allow any statistical comparison between treatment groups, and therefore all the findings should be regarded as preliminary, the results of this explorative study suggest that ultrasound-guided injection of a corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid could be a safe and feasible approach for the treatment of trigger finger. It is also associated with a shorter recovery time than open surgery, which leads to a reduced abstention from sports and, in particular, work activities, and therefore may have some pharmacoeconomic implications, which may be further explored. In light of the promising results obtained in this investigation, further studies comparing ultrasound-guided injection of corticosteroid plus hyaluronic acid with corticosteroid alone are recommended in order to clarify the actual benefits attributable to hyaluronic acid.

Analysis of achilles tendon vascularity with second‐generation contrast‐enhanced ultrasound

To compare morphological, power Doppler, and contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of the Achilles tendon between asymptomatic athletes and athletes who had undergone surgical repair of a previous rupture.

Osteochondritis dissecans of the entire femoral trochlea.

Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) is a term used to describe the separation of an articular cartilage and subchondral bone segment from the remaining articular surface in skeletally immature children. Maximum incidence is between the ages of 10 and 20 years. It is found more frequently in children who are athletes and is twice as common in boys as it is in girls. This condition most commonly affects the knee joint, with approximately 85% of lesions occurring in the medial femoral condyle and 15% of lesions occurring in the lateral femoral condyle. There are very few cases reported in the literature that involve the patellofemoral joint. The patella is more frequently affected, whereas osteochondritis dissecans of the trochlea femuri was first described by Axhausen in 1912. Review of the literature reveals few reported JOCD cases of either the lateral or the medial femoral trochlear groove. We report a rare case of JOCD involving the entire femoral trochlea and its management.

Short-term evaluation of collagen meniscus implants by MRI and morphological analysis

Abstract Meniscectomy can lead to degenerative joint changes in the knee. Collagen meniscus implantation is a tissue engineering technique designed to stimulate regeneration of meniscal tissue in case of irreparable tears or previous meniscectomy. The implant is composed of type I collagen derived from bovine Achilles tendon and enriched with glycosaminoglycans. Previous clinical trials demonstrated satisfactory medium-term results in patients who received a collagen meniscus implant (CMI). In this study, CMI structure was analysed by light microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The same morphological studies were performed on two implant biopsies, obtained from two patients who underwent a second arthroscopic look six months after implantation. The evolution of the implant was also investigated by magnetic resonance imaging, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. CMI presented a multilamellar structure, with inner lacunae allowing tissue ingrowth. The lamellae were made of collagen fibrils, randomly oriented and preserving the typical 64-nm period. At second arthroscopic look, the implant appeared in continuity to the native residual meniscus and parameniscus, and showed good consistency and stability at probing. The biopsy specimens demonstrated invasion of the scaffold by connective tissue and blood vessels. The newly synthesised collagen fibrils were clearly distinguishable from the scaffold ones. No phagocytomacrophagic cells nor inflammatory reactions were observed inside the implant. MRI findings confirmed CMI biocompatibility and highlighted the evolution of the integration process with time. The data achieved in this study support the hypothesis that CMI stimulates regeneration of meniscal-like tissue, which could prevent the development of degenerative changes after meniscectomy.

The "Double-Pulley" Technique for Arthroscopic Fixation of Partial Articular-Side Bony Avulsion of the Supraspinatus Tendon: A Rare Case of Bony PASTA Lesion.

We report the use of the double-pulley technique for arthroscopic fixation of the bony PASTA (partial articular surface tendon avulsion) lesion. Arthroscopic examination documented a 15-mm-long and 8-mm-wide comminuted bony avulsion with 2 main fragments. Two double-loaded suture anchors were placed with a transtendinous technique at the anterior and posterior edges of the lesion respecting the tendon insertion to the avulsed fragment. The medial sutures were retrieved through the intact supraspinatus tendon medially to the fracture. The sutures were initially coupled in a double-pulley configuration generating 2 sutures oriented from anterior to posterior; then a simple suture for each anchor oriented from medial to lateral was obtained. At the end of the procedure, the adequacy of reduction and stability of the fragments were confirmed. At 2 months from surgery, radiographic healing of the fracture was noted and integrity of the supraspinatus tendon insertion to the footprint was confirmed by arthro-magnetic resonance imaging, with full recovery of daily activities and complete active range of motion confirmed at 6 and 12 months. The double-pulley technique allows optimal reduction of bony fragments and reconstruction of normal footprint anatomy even in comminuted fractures. Moreover, it creates a waterproof reduction of the fragments, protecting the fracture site from synovial fluid.