Olimpio Galasso

Quality of life and functionality after total hip arthroplasty: a long-term follow-up study

BackgroundThere is a lack of data on the long-term outcome of total hip arthroplasty procedures, as assessed by validated tools.MethodsWe conducted a follow-up study to evaluate the quality of life and functionality of 250 patients an average of 16 years (range: 11-23 years) after total hip arthroplasty using a validated assessment set including the SF-36 questionnaire, Harris Hip Score, WOMAC score, Functional Comorbidity Index, and a study specific questionnaire. Models of multiple stepwise linear and logistic regression analysis were constructed to evaluate the relationships between several explanatory variables and these functional outcomes.ResultsThe SF-36 physical indexes of these patients compared negatively with the normative values but positively with the results obtained in untreated subjects with severe hip osteoarthritis. Similar results were detected for the Harris Hip Score and WOMAC score. There was a 96% rate of post-surgical satisfaction. Hip functionality and comorbidities were the most important determinants of physical measures on the SF-36.ConclusionsPatients who had undergone total hip arthroplasty have impaired long-term self-reported physical quality of life and hip functionality but they still perform physically better than untreated patients with advanced hip osteoarthritis. However, the level of post-surgical satisfaction is high.

Short-term outcomes of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the treatment of chronic non-calcific tendinopathy of the supraspinatus: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

BackgroundThere is evidence supporting the use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff, but the best current evidence does not support its use in non-calcifying tendinopathy. We conducted a randomized placebo-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of low energy ESWT for non-calcifying tendinopathy of the rotator cuff.Methods20 patients with non-calcifying supraspinatus tendinopathy (NCST) were randomized to an active or a sham treatment group. Physical, blood, roentgenographic, and MRI examinations of the shoulder were conducted to verify that patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These examinations were repeated six and twelve weeks after treatments. Effectiveness was determined by comparison of the mean improvement in the Constant and Murley score (CMS) between the treatment and the placebo groups at three months. Safety was assessed by analyzing the number and severity of adverse events.ResultsAll the patients completed the investigation protocol. At the final follow-up, significant improvement in the total CMS score and most of the CMS subscales was observed in the ESWT group when compared to the baseline values. Significantly higher total CMS, and significantly higher scores for CMS pain and ROM were observed in the ESWT group when compared to the placebo. No serious adverse events were noted after ESWT.ConclusionsPatients suffering from NCST may benefit from low energy ESWT, at least in short-term. The application protocol of ESWT is likely to play a key-role in a successful treatment. Future investigations should be undertaken on the long-term effects of this technique for the treatment of NCST.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN41236511

Relationship between alterations of the lumbar spine, visualized with magnetic resonance imaging, and occupational variables

Although the effect of physical workload on the occurrence of low back pain (LBP) has been extensively investigated, few quantitative studies have examined the morphological changes visualized via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in relation to occupational variables. The relationship between the severity of some abnormalities such as lumbar spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis and physical or psychosocial occupational risk factors has not been investigated previously. In this cross-sectional study patients fulfilled the following inclusion criteria: (1) long-standing (minimum 1-year) LBP radiating down the leg (or not); (2) age more than 40 years; (3) willingness to undergo an MRI of the lumbar spine; and (4) ability to speak Italian. Primary objective of the study was to investigate the association between occupational exposure and morphological MRI findings, while controlling for the individual risk factors for LBP. Secondarily, we looked at the influence of this exposure and the degenerative changes in the lumbar spine on clinical symptoms and the related disability. Lumbar MRI scans from 120 symptomatic patients were supplemented by the results of structured interviews, which provided personal, medical, and occupational histories. All occupational factors were arranged on scales of increasing exposure, whereas pain and disability were assessed using ad hoc validated questionnaires. Evidence of intervertebral disc narrowing or herniation and the occurrence and severity of spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis was obtained from the MRI scans and a summative degenerative score was then calculated. We detected a direct association between increasing age and the global amount of degenerative change, the severity of intervertebral disc height loss, the number of narrowed discs, stenosis, the number of stenotic levels, and spondylolisthesis. Physical occupational exposure was not associated with the presence of lumbar disc degeneration and narrowing per se, but a higher degree of such an exposure was directly associated with a higher degree of degeneration (P=0.017). Spondylolistesis and stenosis were positively related to heavy workload (P=0.014) and the manual handling of materials (P=0.023), respectively. Psychosocial occupational discomfort was directly associated to stenosis (P=0.041) and number of stenotic levels (P=0.019). A heavier job workload was the only occupational factor positively related to the degree of disability at the multivariate analysis (P=0.002). Total amount of degeneration in the lumbar spine directly influenced pain duration (P=0.011) and degree of disability (P=0.050). These results suggest that caution should be exercised when symptomatic subjects with evidence of degenerative changes on MRI scans engage in strenuous physical labor.

Minimum 20-year follow-up results of Harrington rod fusion for idiopathic scoliosis.

We evaluated the outcome of spinal fusion with a single Harrington distraction rod in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. At follow-up visits a minimum of 20 years post-surgery, we studied 24 patients who had been operated on by the same surgeon. The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) Instrument and an additional questionnaire of our own, along with an invitation for a follow-up visit, were originally mailed to 28 consecutive patients of the surgeon. The SRS Instrument has seven domains dealing with back pain, general self-image, self-image after surgery, general function, function in terms of level of activity, function after surgery, and degree of satisfaction with the surgery. The length of time between surgery and the follow-up visit averaged 22.9 years (20.2–27.3). The mean age at surgery and follow-up were 15.8 (13–22) and 38.8 (35–48) years, respectively. Twenty-four patients sent back the completed questionnaires and 16 of them participated in the clinic and radiographic follow-up. To assess the meaning of the questionnaires’ results, a control group of the same sex, age and geographic provenance was selected from our outpatients without scoliosis. The average follow-up score on the SRS Instrument for the patients was 100.8 (78–110). When we compared the study and control groups, no significant differences in the single SRS domain scores were observed. The mean Cobb angle and rib cage deformity before surgery were 70.46° (40–120) and 36.4 mm (20–60 mm), respectively, whereas on follow-up they were 41.23° (16–75) and 22.3 mm (5–50 mm), respectively. These long-term results lead us to consider Harrington fusion a procedure that produces a long-lasting high degree of self-reported post-operative satisfaction.

Recent Findings on the Role of Gelatinases (Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and -9) in Osteoarthritis

Several studies dealing with the pathomechanisms of OA refer to MMP-1, -3, -7, -8, and -13 whereas a smaller number of investigations have pointed out the pathogenic role of gelatinases in OA. These gelatinases are best known for their involvement in pulmonary, myocardial, and neoplastic disease but they are emerging as important proteases implicated in the OA progression. This paper highlights the role of the gelatinases as emerging factors in OA pathogenesis through the regulation of subchondral bone resorption and microvascular invasion. The most significant new findings over the last year that add to our knowledge of the activity of these proteins in OA have been reported.

Pathological findings in subsynovial connective tissue in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome.

Recent studies suggest that in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, pathological changes occur in the subsynovial connective tissue. Such changes are non-inflammatory synovial fibrosis and vascular proliferation. Thickening of the tendon sheet may cause an increase of canal pressure and damages to the median nerve in the wrist; however, the causes of such events still remain to be clarified. We examined synovial specimens from 26 patients operated on for idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. Analysis included histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical examination in order to establish a pathological underlying pattern. An explanation for the pathogenesis of the found changes suggested. Our data confirm the presence of a non-inflammatory fibrosis with irregular bundles of collagen. De novo blood vessel formation was also noted. Interestingly the neo-angiogenesis consists of anomalous vessels and may be triggered from various cell types secreting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), including macrophage-like elements similar to endothelial progenitor cells. Therefore, we believe that in the future a non-surgical management of carpal tunnel syndrome might be conjecturable via anti-VEGF drugs.

Midterm Results and Complications After Minimally Invasive Distal Metatarsal Osteotomy for Treatment of Hallux Valgus

Background: Minimally invasive distal metatarsal osteotomy (MIDMO) is a common technique used to correct the hallux valgus deformity, but controversy remains regarding the expected outcomes of this surgery. Methods: Seventy-two patients (85 feet) suffering from hallux valgus underwent MIDMO with a modified Bösch technique. Patients were prospectively evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hallux score, and the AOFAS recovery rate was calculated. Before surgery and at follow-up, the hallux valgus (HVA), intermetatarsal (IMA), and distal metatarsal articular (DMAA) angles were measured, and the severity of disease was categorized according to the preoperative HVA. The tibial sesamoid position and articular congruence were evaluated. Postoperative complications were noted. Results: After an average follow-up of 73.3 ± 38.1 months, the total AOFAS score improved from 47.6 ± 13.3 to 87.3 ± 11.5 (P < .001). The HVA decreased from 34.7 ± 8.2 to 14.8 ± 7.8 degrees, the IMA from 14.7 ± 4 to 6.6 ± 3.6 degrees, and the DMAA from 20.9 ± 9.8 to 9 ± 6.6 degrees (P < .001 for all). Postoperative improvement in AOFAS was inversely related to the preoperative severity of disease (P < .001, β = –.378). Sixteen (18.8%) deformity recurrences were noted, 9 of which were observed in patients with preoperative HVA more than 40 degrees. Worse preoperative congruence of the metatarsophalangeal joint and tibial sesamoid position correlated with a higher rate of recurrence of the disease after surgery (P = .001, β = –.353 and P < .001, β = .427, respectively). Conclusions: Satisfactory clinical and radiological results can be expected after MIDMO, but caution should be exercised when using this technique because of the likelihood of possible complications (29.4% overall complication rate). Predictors of surgical outcomes can be used to select the best candidates for this surgery. Level of Evidence: Level IV, case series.

Drug elution from high-dose antibiotic-loaded acrylic cement: a comparative, in vitro study.

High-dose antibiotic-loaded acrylic cement (ALAC) is used for managing peri-prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). The marked increase in resistant high-virulence bacteria is drawing the attention of physicians toward alternative antimicrobial formulations loaded into acrylic bone cement. The aim of this in vitro study was to determine the elution kinetics of 14 different high-dose ALACs. All ALAC samples showed a burst release of antibiotics in the first hour, progressively decreasing over time, and elution curves strictly adhered to a nonlinear regression analysis formula. Among aminoglycosides, commonly seen as the most appropriate antibiotics to be loaded into the bone cement, the highest elution rate was that of tobramycin. Among the glycopeptides, a class of antibiotics that should be considered to treat PJIs because of the prevalence of aminoglycoside resistance, vancomycin showed better elution than teicoplanin. Clindamycin, which can be associated with aminoglycosides to prepare ALACs and represents a useful option against the most common pathogens responsible for PJIs, showed the highest absolute and relative elutions among all the tested formulations. A noticeable elution was also detected for colistin, an antibiotic of last resort for treating multidrug-resistant bacteria. The current study demonstrates theoretical advantages in the preparation of ALAC for some antibiotics not routinely used in the clinical setting for PJIs. The use of these antibiotics based on the infecting bacteria sensitivity may represent a useful option for physicians to eradicate PJIs. In vivo testing should be considered in the future to confirm the results of this study.

Simultaneous extraction and rapid visualization of peptidomic and lipidomic body fluids fingerprints using mesoporous aluminosilicate and MALDI‐TOF MS

Herein we report the use of mesoporous aluminosilicate (MPAS) for the simultaneous extraction of peptides and lipids from complex body fluids such as human plasma and synovial fluid. We show that MPAS particles, given their mesostructural features with nanometric pore size and high surface area, are an efficient device for simultaneous extraction of peptidome and lipidome from as little as a few microliters of body fluids. The peptides and the lipids, selected and enriched by MPAS particles and rapidly visualized by MALDI‐TOF MS, could form part of a diagnostic profile of the “peptidome” and the “lipidome” of healthy versus diseased subjects in comparative studies. The ability of this approach to rapidly reveal the overall pattern of changes in both lipidome and peptidome signatures of complex biofluids could be of valuable interest for handling large numbers of samples required in ‐omics studies for the purpose of finding novel biomarkers.

Tenotomy versus Tenodesis in the treatment of the long head of biceps brachii tendon lesions

BackgroundThe superiority of tenotomy vs. tenodesis for surgery on lesions of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon is still under debate. Indeed, high-quality evidence is lacking, mainly because of methodological problems, such as retrospective design, population sample size or lack of patient randomization.Methods/DesignThe study will be a two-center, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial to compare patients treated with biceps tenotomy or tenodesis for lesions of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon over a 2-year follow-up period. The study participants will be 128 adults with biceps brachii tendinopathy and supraspinatus tendon tears. The primary end point will be the postoperative difference in the Constant-Murley score (CMS) between the 2 groups at the two-year follow-up. A comparison of the mean improvement with standard age- and gender-related CMS will be performed. The secondary end point will be evaluation of the postoperative general health of patients, as evaluated with Short Form 36 (SF-36) scores. The number and severity of complications associated with use of the different surgical techniques will be assessed.DiscussionThis study will be the first randomized and appropriately powered clinical trial to directly compare tenotomy and biceps tenodesis. The results of this study will help to establish clinical practice guidelines for patients suffering from lesions of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon, providing important information to patients and health care providers about the possible complications, outcome predictors and effectiveness of the targeted interventions.Trial RegistrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN38839558