Giacomo Zanon

Articular Cartilage Treatment in High-Level Male Soccer Players A Prospective Comparative Study of Arthroscopic Second-Generation Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Versus Microfracture

Background: Soccer is a highly demanding sport for the knee joint, and chondral injuries can cause disabling symptoms that may jeopardize an athlete’s career. Articular cartilage lesions are difficult to treat, and the increased mechanical stress produced by this sport makes their management even more complex. Hypothesis: To evaluate whether the regenerative cell-based approach allows these highly demanding athletes a better functional recovery compared with the bone marrow stimulation approach. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Forty-one professional or semiprofessional male soccer players were treated from 2000 to 2006 and evaluated prospectively at 2 years and at a final 7.5-year mean follow-up (minimum, 4 years). Twenty-one patients were treated with arthroscopic second-generation autologous chondrocyte implantation (Hyalograft C) and 20 with the microfracture technique. The clinical outcome of all patients was analyzed using the cartilage standard International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) evaluation package. The sport activity level was evaluated with the Tegner score, and the recovery time was also recorded. Results: A significant improvement in all clinical scores from preoperative to final follow-up was found in both groups. The percentage of patients who returned to competition was similar: 80% in the microfracture group and 86% in the Hyalograft C group. Patients treated with microfracture needed a median of 8 months before playing their first official soccer game, whereas the Hyalograft C group required a median time of 12.5 months (P = .009). The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score showed similar results at 2 years’ follow-up but significantly better results in the Hyalograft C group at the final evaluation (P = .005). In fact, in the microfracture group, results decreased over time (from 86.8 ± 9.7 to 79.0 ± 11.6, P < .0005), whereas the Hyalograft C group presented a more durable outcome with stable results (90.5 ± 12.8 at 2 years and 91.0 ± 13.9 at the final follow-up). Conclusion: Despite similar success in returning to competitive sport, microfracture allows a faster recovery but present a clinical deterioration over time, whereas arthroscopic second-generation autologous chondrocyte implantation delays the return of high-level male soccer players to competition but can offer more durable clinical results.

An Operative Approach to Achilles Tendinopathy

Summary: Achilles tendinopathy is one of the most common overuse problems in running athletes. When conservative management is unsuccessful, surgery is indicated to increase the likelihood that the patient will return to high levels of sporting activity. Circulatory, metabolic, and mechanical factors are involved in the pathogenesis of the tendinopathy. In surgery for chronic paratendinopathy, we use different techniques depending on the extension of the adhesions and the thickening of the paratenon, removing the fibrotic rinds of the fascia and the hypertrophic parts of the paratenon, taking care not to disturb the mesotendon. In paratendinopathy associated with tendinopathy of the main body of the tendon and in isolated tendinopathy of the main body of the tendon, we free the tendon from fibrotic adhesions and remove the degenerated nodules. Longitudinal tenotomies are performed to try to re-establish tendon nutrition, or at least to cause tendon scarring. Moreover, to improve the blood supply in tendons with extensive degeneration, we have started to place a bundle of soleus muscle within the tendon itself. In insertional tendinopathy, the pre-Achilles bursa is removed, together with the lateral and medial outgrowth of bone and cartilage of the posterior border of the calcaneus, as is done with Haglund deformity, thus preventing further impingement of the tendon insertion.

Non-surgical treatments for the management of early osteoarthritis

AbstractNon-surgical treatments are usually the first choice for the management of knee degeneration, especially in the early osteoarthritis (OA) phase when no clear lesions or combined abnormalities need to be addressed surgically. Early OA may be addressed by a wide range of non-surgical approaches, from non-pharmacological modalities to dietary supplements and pharmacological therapies, as well as physical therapies and novel biological minimally invasive procedures involving injections of various substances to obtain a clinical improvement and possibly a disease-modifying effect. Numerous pharmaceutical agents are able to provide clinical benefit, but no one has shown all the characteristic of an ideal treatment, and side effects have been reported at both systemic and local level. Patients and physicians should have realistic outcome goals in pharmacological treatment, which should be considered together with other conservative measures. Among these, exercise is an effective conservative approach, while physical therapies lack literature support. Even though a combination of these therapeutic options might be the most suitable strategy, there is a paucity of studies focusing on combining treatments, which is the most common clinical scenario. Further studies are needed to increase the limited evidence on non-surgical treatments and their combination, to optimize indications, application modalities, and results with particular focus on early OA. In fact, most of the available evidence regards established OA. Increased knowledge about degeneration mechanisms will help to better target the available treatments and develop new biological options, where preliminary results are promising, especially concerning early disease phases. Specific treatments aimed at improving joint homoeostasis, or even counteracting tissue damage by inducing regenerative processes, might be successful in early OA, where tissue loss and anatomical changes are still at very initial stages. Level of evidence IV.

Platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of acute hamstring injuries in professional football players

PURPOSE muscle injuries have a high incidence in professional football and are responsible for the largest number of days lost from competition. Several in vitro studies have confirmed the positive role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in accelerating recovery and in promoting muscle regeneration, and not fibrosis, in the healing process. This study examines the results of intralesional administration of PRP in the treatment of primary hamstring injuries sustained by players belonging to a major league football club. METHODS twenty-five hamstring injuries (grade 2 according to MRI classification) sustained by professional football players during a 31-months observation period were treated with PRP and analyzed. Sport participation absence (SPA), in days, was considered to correspond to the healing time, and we also considered the re-injury rate, and tissue healing on MRI. The mean follow-up was 36.6 months (range 22-42). RESULTS there were no adverse events. The mean SPA for the treated muscle injuries was 36.76±19.02 days. The re-injury rate was 12%. Tissue healing, evaluated on MRI, was characterized by the presence of excellent repair tissue and a small scar. CONCLUSIONS this study confirmed the safety of PRP in treating hamstring lesions in a large series of professional football players. PRP-treated lesions did not heal more quickly than untreated lesions described in the literature, but they showed a smaller scar and excellent repair tissue. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Muscle transplant in the rabbit's Achilles tendon

UNLABELLED Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a degenerative disorder resulting from functional overload, especially during running and jumping, with some inflammatory features at the insertions, bursae, and paratenon. The Achilles tendon is poorly vascularized, especially in the middle third, and the consequent slow metabolic rate allows it to work at very low oxygen tensions but prevents on the other hand a rapid healing. PURPOSE To create an animal model to study a novel surgical technique employed in AT: transplanting some fibers of the soleus muscle into the tendon in order to improve its vascularization and healing and to study the histological appearance of the soleus graft incorporated in the tendon. METHODS We operated on 10 white New Zealand rabbits (eight rabbits underwent the procedure, two rabbits the sham operation with incision of the tendon without graft). Two animals were euthanized at 1 wk, 1, 2, and 3 months. RESULTS Histology showed that after 3 months the muscle fibers were still viable within the tendons, interspersed within connective tissue fibers. Tendon and muscle tissues were intimately fused. CONCLUSIONS The persistence of the soleus muscle pedicle graft within the Achilles tendon tissue is an index of sound blood supply. This surgical model is suitable for application in further studies on tendon healing.

Double-Bundle Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction With a Single Patellar Tunnel

Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction is an established method to prevent patellofemoral instability. Nevertheless, the anatomy and the biomechanical behavior of native MPFL are still under investigation, but in recent years they have become more defined. We propose a technique for MPFL reconstruction based on the results of recent anatomic studies regarding the patellar insertion of the MPFL. A double-bundle MPFL is reconstructed by use of the semitendinosus tendon passed through a single patellar tunnel, which crosses the patella from the midpoint of its medial border until its superolateral corner is reached. This method permits a strong patellar fixation, potentially reducing the risk of patellar fracture compared with double-patellar tunnel techniques. Moreover, it requires no fixation devices at the patella and only a single interference screw on the femoral side.

Emerging Orthobiologic Approaches to Tendon Injuries

With the increasing popularity of sport activities, the frequency of sport-related lesions, such as tendon injuries, is rapidly rising [1]. Orthobiology is a new exciting area of medical research aimed to enhance tendon tissue healing. New therapies are emerging with promising results, but further investigation is warranted to better define indications, techniques, modalities, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

Italian consensus statement for the use of allografts in ACL reconstructive surgery

PurposeGraft choice for primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) is debated, with considerable controversy and variability among surgeons. Autograft tendons are actually the most used grafts for primary surgery; however, allografts have been used in greater frequency for both primary and revision ACL surgery over the past decade. Given the great debate on the use of allografts in ACL-R, the “Allografts for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction” consensus statement was developed among orthopedic surgeons and members of SIGASCOT (Società Italiana del Ginocchio, Artroscopia, Sport, Cartilagine, Tecnologie Ortopediche), with extensive experience in ACL-R, to investigate their habits in the use of allograft in different clinical situations. The results of this consensus statement will serve as benchmark information for future research and will help surgeons to facilitate the clinical decision making.MethodsIn March 2017, a formal consensus process was developed using a modified Delphi technique method, involving a steering group (9 participants), a rating group (28 participants) and a peer-review group (31 participants). Nine statements were generated and then debated during a SIGASCOT consensus meeting. A manuscript has been then developed to report methodology and results of the consensus process and finally approved by all steering group members.ResultsA different level of consensus has been reached among the topics selected. Strong agreement has been reported in considering harvesting, treatment and conservation methods relevant for clinical results, and in considering biological integration longer in allograft compared to autograft. Relative agreement has been reported in using allograft as the first-line graft for revision ACL-R, in considering biological integration a crucial aspect for rehabilitation protocol set-up, and in recommending a delayed return to sport when using allograft. Relative disagreement has been reported in using allograft as the first-line graft for primary ACL-R in patients over 50, and in not considering clinical results of allograft superior to autograft. Strong disagreement has been reported in using allograft as the first-line graft for primary ACL-R and for skeletally immature patients.ConclusionsResults of this consensus do not represent a guideline for surgeons, but could be used as starting point for an international discussion on use of allografts in ACL-R.Level of evidenceIV, consensus of experts.

The Use of PRP in Athletes with Muscular Lesions or Classification of PRP Preparations

Muscle injuries are very common in sports. Professional and recreational activities are one of the most common causes; therefore, there is a strict connection with modern sports traumatology. Muscle injuries represented 48% of all injuries during track and field competition in a recent International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) study and more than 31% of all injuries in professional soccer players [1, 2].

Surgical Treatment of Acute and Chronic Muscle Injuries

Muscle injuries and disorders are one of the most common traumas occurring in sports, especially in high-level athletes. They present a challenging problem in sport traumatology, as injured muscles heal slowly and often with an incomplete functional recovery. The nonoperative treatment results in good/excellent functional outcomes in the majority of patients. Therefore, the surgical treatment is less common than conservative therapies, and indications are limited to more serious and specific cases. Depending on the severity of the problem, the location, and the timing of the damage (acute or chronic), different surgical approaches can be proposed.