Volar distal radius vascularized bone graft vs non-vascularized bone graft: a prospective comparative study.

The pseudoarthrosis (PSA) of scaphoid leads to alteration in load transfer in the wrist joint. Its treatment aims to achieve consolidation to improve clinical complaints and prevent post-traumatic arthritis. The indication for using vascularized bone grafts is still controversial. This prospective comparative study aimed to compare consolidation rate and time to healing of scaphoid PSA treated by volar distal radius vascularized bone graft vs non-vascularized iliac bone graft. Nine patients underwent vascularized grafting of scaphoid PSA. These patients were compared to a control group consisting of twelve patients treated with iliac crest-free bone graft. PSA consolidation was obtained in 8 of 9 patients (88%) and 9 of 12 patients (75%) in the study and control group, respectively. The difference in consolidation rate was not significant. Two of three patients with AVN of the proximal pole in the study group (66%) went to consolidation. In the control group no patient with AVN obtained bone consolidation. This difference almost reached statistical significance (p = 0.083). The mean time to consolidation was 8.6 weeks (range 8-11) and 11.7 weeks (range 10-16), respectively, in the study and control group. This difference was significant (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the distal radius vascularized graft led to satisfactory consolidation rate of PSA in the current study, even in cases of AVN of the proximal pole. Moreover, the vascularized bone graft resulted in shorter healing time compared to the non-vascularized graft.

[Primary bladder diverticula in children: report of 15 cases]. / I diverticoli vescicali primitivi in età pediatrica: presentazione di una serie di 15 pazienti.

The Authors report their experience in primitive bladder diverticula treatment during the last six years. They identify criteria for a general classification of this clinical entity and limited to primitive forms they divide in 4 groups. This classification is related to clinical and topographycal criteria, aiming to delineate a new diagnostic and therapeutic pathway.

[Giant posterolateral congenital extra-trigonal diverticula of the bladder: an uncommon nosologic entity]. / I diverticoli giganti primitivi postero-laterali ed extratrigonali della vescica: una rara entità nosologica a sé stante.

The Authors, on the basis of their observation of two cases of giant posterolateral congenital extratrigonal diverticula of the bladder (D.G.P.P.L.E.), identify it as a nosological entity apart in the widest category of bladder's diverticula, which implies a peculiar diagnostic and therapeutic attitude.

[Femoral hernia in childhood: a rare entity]. / L'ernia crurale in età pediatrica: una rara evenienza.

The Authors present 4 cases of femoral hernia treated in their pediatric surgery department during the last 11 years. Childhood femoral hernia is rare and often missed clinically because of difficulty in eliciting their clinical signs. During an operation for inguinal hernia it is essential to think of femoral hernia when a non obliterated processus vaginalis is not found.

[Hormonal investigation in the diagnosis of anorchia in childhood]. / Le indagini ormonali nella diagnosi di anorchia in età pediatrica.

We have stimulated seventeen children (4-12 years old) with bilateral non palpable testes with LH-RH and HCG. The differential diagnosis between anorchia (5 patients) and bilateral cryptorchidism (12 patients) was possible with evaluation of FSH and Testosterone plasma levels before and after hormonic stimulation.