Lisa Berti

Surgical Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus in Young Active Patients

C artilage is a smooth, highly specialized tissue that coats the surface of the joint. Although it is only a few millimeters thick, it has exceptional stiffness to compression and resilience and is able to distribute loads1. It is susceptible to injury and is limited in regenerative capability2. The biological function of cartilage is to permit articular movement while minimizing surface friction, to absorb loads in the weight-bearing joints, and to reduce the stress on the subchondral bone. Figs. 1-A and 1-B Histological appearance of hyaline cartilage. Fig. 1-A After staining with safranin O (×30). Fig. 1-B After staining with alcian blue (×100). Hyaline (articular) cartilage consists of 70% water; 15% collagens (primarily type II); and 15% proteoglycans (in particular, aggrecan), noncollagen proteins, lipids, and inorganic material. Chondrocytes, the only cell type in this tissue, sit within the matrix of proteoglycans and collagen, which give the cartilage its compressive and tensile properties3 (Figs. 1-A and 1-B). Osteochondral lesions of the talus are defects of the cartilaginous surface and underlying subchondral bone of the talar dome4. The etiology of osteochondral lesions of the talus can be divided into primary and secondary. Primary osteochondral lesions of the talus represent chronic diseases of the subchondral bone, most likely due to a deficiency of the vascular supply. More rarely, they are described as associated with endocrine disorders and genetic abnormalities4. Primary osteochondral lesions were formerly described as osteochondritis dissecans5. Secondary osteochondral lesions of the talus most likely occur as a result of ankle injuries (ankle sprain or fracture), chronic instability, axial defects of the lower leg, or dysbaric osteonecrosis6,7. Because joint cartilage has a poor reparative capability, osteochondral lesions of the talus rarely heal spontaneously. More frequently, patients with osteochondral lesions of …

Effects of an adapted physical activity program in a group of elderly subjects with flexed posture: clinical and instrumental assessment

BackgroundFlexed posture commonly increases with age and is related to musculoskeletal impairment and reduced physical performance. The purpose of this clinical study was to systematically compare the effects of a physical activity program that specifically address the flexed posture that marks a certain percentage of elderly individuals with a non specific exercise program for 3 months.MethodsParticipants were randomly divided into two groups: one followed an Adapted Physical Activity program for flexed posture and the other one completed a non-specific physical activity protocol for the elderly. A multidimensional clinical assessment was performed at baseline and at 3 months including anthropometric data, clinical profile, measures of musculoskeletal impairment and disability. The instrumental assessment of posture was realized using a stereophotogrammetric system and a specific biomechanical model designed to describe the reciprocal position of the body segments on the sagittal plane in a upright posture.ResultsThe Adapted Physical Activity program determined a significant improvement in several key parameters of the multidimensional assessment in comparison to the non-specific protocol: decreased occiput-to-wall distance, greater lower limb range of motion, better flexibility of pectoralis, hamstrings and hip flexor muscles, increased spine extensor muscles strength. Stereophotogrammetric analysis confirmed a reduced protrusion of the head and revealed a reduction in compensative postural adaptations to flexed posture characterized by knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion in the participants of the specific program.ConclusionThe Adapted Physical Activity program for flexed posture significantly improved postural alignment and musculoskeletal impairment of the elderly. The stereophotogrammetric evaluation of posture was useful to measure the global postural alignment and especially to analyse the possible compensatory strategies at lower limbs in flexed posture.

Repeatability of a multi-segment foot protocol in adult subjects

Despite the numerous protocols for multi-segment kinematic analysis of the foot, the literature is scarce regarding relevant measures of reliability. The aim of the present work was to assess the inter-trial, inter-session and inter-examiner variability of one of these protocols by an established method. The kinematics of the joints of the foot of two volunteers were analyzed by four examiners with different degrees of experience in three sessions, two-to-four weeks apart. In each session the data of five trials of level walking were collected and the rotations in the three anatomical planes between foot segments were calculated. The mean value over stance phase duration of the standard deviation of these rotations was calculated for groups of trials according to the statistical method as in Schwartz et al. [6]. For each rotation, the inter-examiner variability was larger than the inter-session, and the latter larger than the inter-trial. The inter-session variability was found in the same order of magnitude for standard lower limb protocols for the two expert examiners, but much higher for the inexperienced examiners.

Percutaneous and minimally invasive techniques of achilles tendon repair

Despite the controversy regarding the best treatment for an acute Achilles tendon rupture, percutaneous and minimally invasive techniques seem to offer good results in terms of low risks of rerupture and complications with satisfactory clinical and functional outcomes. A comparison between a percutaneous surgical technique and a minimally invasive one has not been reported in the literature. We consecutively evaluated 12 patients who had a modified Ma and Griffith percutaneous Achilles tendon repair and 12 patients who had a minimally invasive technique. The same semifunctional rehabilitation protocol was used after surgery in both groups. At a minimum followup of 24 months (mean, 33 months; range, 24-42 months), we observed no reruptures or major complications in either group. Both groups had similarly high values for the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score. The two techniques allowed equivalent time for return to work and sports. In the group of patients treated with the modified Ma and Griffith suture only, the mean loss of calf circumference in the injured leg was greater, compared with the contralateral leg. The two groups were isokinetically similar. In this study, the percutaneous and minimally invasive techniques of repair of the Achilles tendon yielded essentially identical clinical and functional outcomes.Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Diagnosis of Flexible Flatfoot in Children: A Systematic Clinical Approach

The goal of this study was to provide measures of symptoms and signs in a consecutive case series of children with flexible flatfoot based on a systematic clinical approach. Fifty-three children (age range, 10-14 years) previously diagnosed with flexible flatfoot were evaluated by a structured interview and clinical assessment. Most patients had foot symptoms (65.3% of feet) and functional limitation (68.3%). Symptoms included a sensation of discomfort (11.3%), such as early tiredness or difficulties during prolonged standing or walking, and pain (54%), mostly located in the plantar aspect of the foot (28.7%) and the medial hindfoot (18.8%). Body mass index was positively correlated to the presence of symptoms and their severity. Even if an enlarged footprint was present in 93.1% of feet, objective assessment evidenced the presence of heel valgus only in 83% of feet. Forefoot adduction was present in 22% of feet. Jacks test provided varus correction in only 54% of feet. Internal knee rotation was the most common associated disalignment, present in 43.6% of limbs. Symptoms were significantly correlated to knee alignment, and functional limitation was correlated to heel valgus. Standing balance on 1 leg was significantly correlated to footprint grading severity. A systematic clinical approach to assess children with flexible flatfoot should always be recommended for the correct diagnosis and the associated treatment management based on symptoms, functional limitation, and foot dysfunction. Functional assessment by specific tests should be included in the examination, as evidence exists that morphology and function are not necessarily related.

Validation of the angular measurements of a new inertial-measurement-unit based rehabilitation system: comparison with state-of-the-art gait analysis

BackgroundSeveral rehabilitation systems based on inertial measurement units (IMU) are entering the market for the control of exercises and to measure performance progression, particularly for recovery after lower limb orthopaedic treatments. IMU are easy to wear also by the patient alone, but the extent to which IMU’s malpositioning in routine use can affect the accuracy of the measurements is not known. A new such system (Riablo™, CoRehab, Trento, Italy), using audio-visual biofeedback based on videogames, was assessed against state-of-the-art gait analysis as the gold standard.MethodsThe sensitivity of the system to errors in the IMU’s position and orientation was measured in 5 healthy subjects performing two hip joint motion exercises. Root mean square deviation was used to assess differences in the system’s kinematic output between the erroneous and correct IMU position and orientation.In order to estimate the system’s accuracy, thorax and knee joint motion of 17 healthy subjects were tracked during the execution of standard rehabilitation tasks and compared with the corresponding measurements obtained with an established gait protocol using stereophotogrammetry.ResultsA maximum mean error of 3.1 ± 1.8 deg and 1.9 ± 0.8 deg from the angle trajectory with correct IMU position was recorded respectively in the medio-lateral malposition and frontal-plane misalignment tests. Across the standard rehabilitation tasks, the mean distance between the IMU and gait analysis systems was on average smaller than 5°.ConclusionsThese findings showed that the tested IMU based system has the necessary accuracy to be safely utilized in rehabilitation programs after orthopaedic treatments of the lower limb.

Physical activity monitoring in obese people in the real life environment

BackgroundObesity is a major problem especially in western countries and several studies underline the importance of physical activity to enhance diet. Currently there is increasing interest in instruments for monitoring daily physical activity. The purpose of this pilot study was to appraise the qualitative and quantitative differences in physical activities and gait analysis parameters in control and obese subjects by means of an innovative tool for the monitoring of physical activity.MethodsTwenty-six obese patients, 16 women and 10 men, aged 22 to 69 years with Body Mass Index (BMI) between 30 and 51.4 kg/m2, were compared with 15 control subjects, 4 men and 11 women, aged 24 to 69 with BMI between 18 and 25 kg/m2 during daily physical activities. The IDEEA device (Minisun, Fresno, CA), based on a wearable system of biaxial accelerometers and able to continuously record the physical activities and energy expenditure of a subject in time was used. Time spent in different physical activities such as standing, sitting, walking, lying, reclining, stepping, energy expenditure and gait parameters (velocity, stance duration, etc) were measured during a 24-hours period.ResultsA trend toward a reduced number of steps was present, associated to reduced speed, reduced cadence and reduced rate of single and double limb support (SLS/DLS). Moreover, obese people spent significant less time stepping, less time lying and more time in a sitting or reclined position during the night. The energy expenditure during a 24-hours period was higher in the obese compared to controls.ConclusionsThe study provided objective parameters to differentiate the daily motor activity of obese subjects with respect to controls, even a larger population is required to confirm these findings. The device used can be of support in programming educational activities for life style modification in obese people as well as for monitoring the results of various kinds of intervention in these patients concerning weight and physical performance.

Functional performance of a total ankle replacement: thorough assessment by combining gait and fluoroscopic analyses

BACKGROUND A thorough assessment of patients after total ankle replacement during activity of daily living can provide complete evidence of restored function in the overall lower limbs and replaced ankle. This study analyzes how far a possible restoration of physiological mobility in the replaced ankle can also improve the function of the whole locomotor apparatus. METHODS Twenty patients implanted with an original three-part ankle prosthesis were analyzed 12 months after surgery during stair climbing and descending. Standard gait analysis and motion tracking of the components by three-dimensional fluoroscopic analysis were performed on the same day using an established protocol and technique, respectively. FINDINGS Nearly physiological ankle kinematic, kinetic and electromyography patterns were observed in the contralateral side in both motor activities, whereas these patterns were observed only during stair climbing in the operated side. Particularly, the mean ranges of flexion at the replaced ankle were 13° and 17° during stair climbing and descending, respectively. Corresponding 2.1 and 3.1mm antero/posterior meniscal-to-tibial translations were correlated with flexion between the two metal components (p<0.05). In addition, a larger tibiotalar flexion revealed by fluoroscopic analysis resulted in a physiological hip and knee moment. INTERPRETATION The local and global functional performances of these patients were satisfactory, especially during stair climbing. These might be associated to the recovery of physiological kinematics at the replaced ankle, as also shown by the consistent antero/posterior motion of the meniscal bearing, according to the original concepts of this ankle replacement design.

Clinicoradiographic Assessment of Flexible Flatfoot in Children

BACKGROUND Radiographic assessment is still used to evaluate flexible flatfoot in children. METHODS To find a set of radiologic parameters for assessing this disease, we studied 53 children aged 10 to 14 years. The degree of plantar collapse was measured by Viladots classification (grades 0-4). The degree of valgus deformity measured in the heel in a standing position, the presence of painful points, and functional limitation during daily-living activities were also reported. The children underwent standard radiography of the foot under load. On the dorsoplantar view, the talocalcaneal, hallux metatarsophalangeal, and first intermetatarsal angles were measured. On the lateral view, the talocalcaneal, Costa Bertani, talometatarsal, talonavicular, and tibiotalar angles were measured. The radiographic measurements were compared with the data reported in the literature and were correlated with the clinical parameters studied (degree of flatfoot, valgus deviation of the heel, pain, and functional limitation). RESULTS The radiographic measures that resulted increased with respect to the reference values reported in the literature for the Costa Bertani (93.1% of feet), talometatarsal (93.5%), talonavicular (89.1%), and tibiotalar (69.7%) angles, all in the lateral view. Of the angles assessed in the dorsoplantar view, the hallux metatarsophalangeal (11.1%) and first intermetatarsal (24.2%) angles were increased. The degree of flatfoot was correlated with the Costa Bertani angle (P < .0005). In the group with pain, the lateral talocalcaneal (P = .016) and first intermetatarsal (P = .02) angles were increased compared within the group without pain. CONCLUSIONS Despite technical limitations, we still consider standard radiography of the foot, combined with clinical examination, to be a valid tool for assessing flexible flatfoot in children, especially when surgical treatment is expected and when a basic measure of the structural setup of the foot is necessary.

Étude de la marche après ostéoplastie de retournement pour tumeur maligne de l’extrémité proximale du fémur

Resume L’osteoplastie de retournement de la hanche est une technique chirurgicale particuliere utilisee dans le traitement des tumeurs malignes de la partie proximale du femur. Nous presentons ici un cas, etudie au moyen d’une analyse de la marche avant et apres un programme de rehabilitation de la marche. L’evaluation des amplitudes articulaires et des moments cinetiques de l’articulation ainsi que l’electromyographie nous ont permis de documenter l’adaptation progressive des fonctions musculaires et articulaires a leur nouveau role developpe dans les schemas moteurs, demontrant l’efficacite exceptionnelle de l’osteoplastie de retournement. La possibilite de disposer d’un controle actif sur deux points d’appui dans le membre inferieur, la pseudo-hanche en proximal et le pseudo-genou en position intermediaire, rend ce type d’operation extremement avantageux en comparaison avec les techniques alternatives de desarticulation de la hanche ou d’hemipelvectomie. L’absence totale de douleur jointe a la preservation de la proprioception articulaire et cutanee fait de cette operation, lorsqu’elle est possible, une bonne solution dans le traitement des tumeurs malignes de la partie proximale du femur.