All-inside repair of meniscal bucket handle tears: a retrospective study at mean 4-years follow-up evaluation.

Bucket-handle tears represent approximately 10% of all meniscal tears. Despite the common treatment is subtotal meniscectomy, repair is technically feasible although complex, and represents a key strategy to avoid severe meniscal tissue loss that could accelerate joint degeneration over time. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the outcomes of arthroscopically-assisted bucket-handle tear repair, and to identify factors correlating with clinical results. Fifty-four patients affected by meniscal bucket handle tear were included in the present retrospective analysis and evaluated up to mean 4-years follow-up. All patients were treated by arthroscopic-assisted all-inside repair. The primary outcome was considered the need for a re-operation due to failure of meniscal repair. Patients were also evaluated by the following items: KOOS, Lysholm, Tegner, IKDC-subjective and Quadruple-VAS score. Subgroup analysis was performed to identify whether concurrent ACL reconstruction, side of the lesion, age at surgery and time from injury to repair could influence clinical outcome. Ten out 54 patients (18.5%) were considered failed and needed reoperation, mainly within one year from surgery. Overall, there was a significant increase in all clinical scores considered and patients were able to get back to previous sport activity level. Patients with concurrent ACL reconstruction presented a lower risk of failure (p=0.025). Patients with lateral meniscus repair showed better clinical outcome compared to medial meniscus. Timing from injury and age at surgery did not correlated with clinical outcome. Our series showed fair results in bucket handle repair up to middle term evaluation. Concomitant ACL reconstruction was associated with lower failure rate whereas lateral meniscus involvement was associated with higher functional scores at final follow-up evaluation.

Allograft tendons are a safe and effective option for revision ACL reconstruction: a clinical review.

Revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction remains a challenge, especially optimising outcome for patients with a compromised knee where previous autogenous tissue has been used for reconstruction. Allograft tissue has become a recognized choice of graft for revision surgery but questions remain over the risks and benefits of such an option. Allograft tendons are a safe and effective option for revision ACL reconstruction with no higher risk of infection and equivalent failure rates compared to autografts provided that the tissue is not irradiated, or any irradiation is minimal. Best scenarios for use of allografts include revision surgery where further use of autografts could lead to high donor site morbidity, complex instability situations where additional structures may need reconstruction, and in those with clinical and radiologic signs of autologous tendon degeneration. A surgeon needs to be able to select the best option for the challenging knee facing revision ACL reconstruction, and in the light of current data, allograft tissue can be considered a suitable option to this purpose.Level of evidence IV.

A novel technique for combined medial collateral ligament and posterior oblique ligament reconstruction: technical note.

PURPOSE: In the last year, we have performed a new technique for combined medial collateral ligament (MCL) and posterior oblique ligament (POL) reconstruction in chronic setting of anterior cruciate ligament and MCL complex deficiency. Autogenous semitendinosus tendon with the tibial attachment preserved has been used for the medial/posteromedial compartment reconstruction. We describe the operative technique. METHODS: Between January and December 2014, 12 consecutive patients with multiligamentous injuries underwent concomitant MCL/POL using a novel technique. The usefulness of the novel technique is the semitendinosus sling on the semimembranosus tendon and the POL fixation with the knee in full extension. RESULTS: An ideal anteroposterior and rotational stability avoiding the medial compartment over constraint was achieved, in the immediate after surgery, due to the sequence of the bundle fixations and to the semitendinosus sling below the semimembranosus tendon. CONCLUSIONS: This technique is easily reproducible and useful and restores the medial stability immediately after surgery.

Spinal hematoma after total knee arthroplasty: a case report.

Spinal anesthesia is a common procedure performed in orthopedic surgery, and it is regarded as secure and safe. Although puncture-related complication of spinal anesthesia has a very low incidence, it would lead to dramatic neurological damage (tetra- or paraplegia). Early diagnosis and surgical decompression are mandatory to promote a better outcome. We present a case of acute spinal hematoma from T11 to L3, triggered by laborious anesthesia puncture after total knee arthroplasty. A prompt surgical decompression within few hours after diagnosis allowed rapid functional recovery and avoided permanent paraplegia.

Autologous and micro-fragmented adipose tissue for the treatment of diffuse degenerative knee osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Chondral lesions of the knee represent a challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. Several treatments have been proposed with variable success rate. Recently, new therapeutic approaches, such as the use of mesenchymal stem cells, have shown promising results. The adipose tissue is a good source of these naturally occurring regenerative cells, due to its abundance and easy access. In addition, it can be used to provide cushioning and filling of structural defects. The 1-year safety and outcome of a single intra-articular injection of autologous and micro-fragmented adipose tissue in 30 patients affected by diffuse degenerative chondral lesions was evaluated. METHODS: Micro-fragmented adipose tissue was obtained using a minimal manipulation technique in a closed system. The safety of the procedure was evaluated by recording type and incidence of any adverse event. The clinical outcomes were determined using the KOOS, IKDC-subjective, Tegner Lysholm Knee, and VAS pain scales taken pre-operatively and at 12 months follow-up. A level of at least 10 points of improvement in the scores has been selected as cut-off representing a clinically significant difference. RESULTS: No relevant complications nor clinical worsening were recorded. A total median improvement of 20 points has been observed in IKDC-subjective and total KOOS, and a higher percentage of success was found in VAS pain and Tegner Lysholm Knee, where the total median improvement was 24 and 31 points, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show the safety and feasibility of using autologous and micro-fragmented adipose tissue in patients affected by diffuse degenerative chondral lesions. The technique is safe, minimally invasive, simple, one-step, with low percentage of complications, and compliant with the regulatory panorama.

Noradrenergic responses to clonidine in acute and remitted depressed male patients.

To investigate noradrenergic function in depression, plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), plasma norepinephrine (NE), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate responses to intravenous clonidine (2 micrograms/kg), an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, were measured in 27 acutely depressed patients, 18 remitted depressed patients, and 27 normal control subjects; a placebo infusion was administered to a subgroup. Clonidine compared with placebo, over a 150-minute time course, decreased plasma NE, MAP, and heart rate, but not plasma MHPG, in the control subjects. Plasma MHPG, plasma NE, MAP, and heart rate at baseline or in response to clonidine and placebo over 150 minutes did not indicate any group differences. The only significant plasma MHPG response to clonidine in the normal control subjects occurred 60 minutes after the infusion. A significantly diminished plasma MHPG response to clonidine at 60 minutes was found in the acutely depressed group compared with the normal control subjects. These results suggest that peripheral inhibitory noradrenergic responses to clonidine are normal in depressed patients, while plasma MHPG responses to clonidine, which have a limited central contribution, appear to be a weak reflection of central noradrenergic function and appear insufficiently robust for a meaningful evaluation of hypothetical group differences in central inhibitory alpha 2-adrenergic activity in this population.

[Vulvar lesions caused by HPV]. / Lesioni vulvari da HPV.

Human papillomavirus subclinical lesions are well known on the cervix and are identified by colposcopy after acetic acid staining. The transfer of this technique from the cervix to the vulva has led to the identification of areas of white epithelial changes which have been defined by similarity as vulvar subclinical HPV (VSHPV) lesions. A critical revision of the different clinical VSHPV lesions classifications, the vulvar diagnostic role of acetic acid staining, the natural history of HPV infection and the histological-biomolecular diagnostic techniques has the authors to the conclusions that the majority of the "so called" VSHPV lesions should not be considered a real disease. The presence of HPV-DNA in these subclinical lesions should be considered causal and not causal. To avoid overtreatments in women with proven HPV-DNA positivity without macroscopic clinical lesions, the authors recommend to abandon the acetic acid staining on the vulva and invite to consider the VSHPV lesions a faked diagnosis and not a clinical entity.

[Vulvar Paget's disease. Clinico-pathologic review of the literature]. / La malattia di Paget vulvare. Revisione clinico-patologica della letteratura.

In 1986 the International Society For the Study of Vulvar Disease classified vulvar Paget's disease (VPD) as a non-squamous intraepithelial lesion of the vulva. The clinical multiform aspect of VPD, similar to other dermatological lesions, often delays the execution of a biopsy. Paget's cells could be instead easily identified at histological examination and with histochemical reactions. Underlying adenocarcinomas or stromal invasion are present in about 10% of intraepithelial VPD. Patients with VPD are at risk for a second synchronous or metachronous neoplasia: colo-rectal adenocarcinoma (more frequent in perianal localization of VPD), cervical adenocarcinoma, carcinoma of the transitional epithelium from the renal pelvis to urethra and mammary carcinoma. A wide spectrum of frequency of these associations is reported in the literature (0-45%). Therapy for intraepithelial VPD is wide and deep surgical resection comprising all the skin appendages. However VPD has a high frequency of recurrences (15-62%), often irrespective for radicality of surgical excision. When association with underlying invasive adenocarcinoma or stromal invasion is histologically confirmed, vulvar surgical approach must be integrated with inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy. The role of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the multimodal approach to extensive or recurring VPD is still controversial. Recurrences or progression of intraepithelal VPD are reported more than 10 years from first surgical resection so that long term follow-up is mandatory.

[The role of Papanicolaou test in gynecologic practice]. / Il ruolo del test di Papanicolaou nella practica ginecologica.

The paper analyses the importance of Papanicolaou's test in gynecological diagnostics and reports an interesting checklist drawn up by the "Istituto Superiore di Sanità" with which all women should be familiar in order to diagnose cervical cancer at an early stage.

[Varicocele and pregnancy. Comparison of treated and untreated patients]. / Varicocele e gravidanza. Comparazione tra soggetti trattati chirurgicamente e soggetti non trattati.

A study was made of 209 cases of sterility due to male varicocele out of a series of 1730 infertile couples. Corrective surgery was performed in 38 cases with 8 subsequent pregnancies (21.5%). A total of 31 pregnancies were achieved in the 171 cases which did not undergo surgical treatment (18.7%).

[Thromboembolic disease in obstetrics. Current concepts]. / Malattia tromboembolica in ostetricia. Concezioni attuali.

Thromboembolic disease during pregnancy and confinement is an important cause of mortality and obstetric morbidity. The onset of thromboembolic disease is caused by vascular damage, stasis and hypercoagulability, factors which are all present during gestation. All A. agree that it is of fundamental importance to intervene immediately in cases of active thromboembolic disease, but also to take suitable prophylactic measures to prevent the onset of disease.

[Clinical study of the use of a new tri-phasic pill]. / Studio clinico sull'uso di una nuova pillola trifasica.

The paper reports the results of a study to assess the contraceptive efficacy of a new triphasic pill (Trinovum - Cilag AG). The pill was administered to 50 women aged between 18 and 41 years for 12 months, giving a total of 600 menstrual cycles. Data confirm the value of this pill which ensures excellent contraceptive efficacy and is well tolerated by patients with very few adverse effects.

Osteonecrosis after arthroscopic medial meniscectomy.

Osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle is an uncommon complication of meniscal surgery. Whether this disease is associated with the original medial meniscus lesion or with the arthroscopic procedure is not yet known. We present two cases in which osteonecrosis has developed shortly after arthroscopy was performed for medial meniscus pathology. Magnetic resonance imaging has been the best tool to diagnose and follow up the changes in the involved area. Concerning the etiology, the authors raise the question of whether the medial compartment overloading observed in both of these cases had any significant meaning. Osteonecrosis following meniscal surgery in relatively young patients seems to have a good prognosis when correctly treated, with avoidance of weight bearing.

Comparison of surgical treatments for knee dislocation.

This retrospective study compared three surgical procedures for acute knee dislocation. Eleven patients (group 1) underwent direct repair of the cruciate ligaments, 6 patients (group 2) underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with hamstring tendons and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reattachment, and 6 patients (group 3) underwent PCL reconstruction with ipsilateral bone-patellar tendon-bone and ACL reconstruction with doubled semitendinosus and gracilis tendons. Average follow-up was 6.9 years (range: 24 months to 19 years). Surgical results were evaluated using the IKDC evaluation form, KT-2000 arthrometer, and Lysholm and Tegner scores. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test and the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test to compare different surgical procedures. In terms of stability and range of motion, results were less favorable after direct repair and cruciate ligament reattachment. Better results were reported after combined ACL and PCL reconstruction. Average side-to-side total anteroposterior translation as measured by the KT-2000 arthrometer at 20 degrees +/- 5 degrees of knee flexion was 6.67 mm, 3.6 mm, and 3.2 mm in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. At final International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) evaluation, only 2 group 3 patients achieved a group qualification A, while a group qualification B was achieved by 5 patients (2 patients in group 1, 2 patients in group 2, and 1 patient in group 3). Nine patients in group 1, 4 patients in group 2, and 3 patients in group 3 achieved group qualifications C and D (fair or poor results). Based on these results, we do not recommend reattachment of the cruciate ligaments after knee dislocation for obtaining a stable knee with full range of motion.