Intra- and extra-pelvic lesions associated with unstable fractures of the pelvic ring.

Fracture of the pelvis is often caused by high-energy trauma, and for this reason it is frequently associated with fractures in other regions, hemorrhages, or severe lesions of the organs. Based on an analysis of the results, obtained by a review of 68 cases of unstable fracture of the pelvis treated at the IIIrd Division of the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute between 1980 and 1995, the authors make several suggestions concerning diagnosis and therapy for the evaluation and treatment of these patients.

The opportunity of rehabilitation treatment in acetabular fractures treated by osteosynthesis.

Two groups of 24 patients each who had been submitted to osteosynthesis for the treatment of fracture of the acetabulum were evaluated. The first group was submitted to rehabilitation treatment according to the protocol used in the Division of Physiotherapy at the Rizzoli Institute; the second group did not use this protocol. Clinical-radiographic follow-ups were obtained after 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postsurgery. The results of the evaluations carried out showed the usefulness of specific physiokinesitherapy in obtaining more rapid and best possible functional recovery.

[Expression of the interleukin-2 receptor in T lymphocytes of the rheumatoid synovial membrane]. / Espressione del recettore per l'interleuchina-2 nei T-linfociti della membrana sinoviale reumatoide.

Indirect immunofluorescence was used to stain DR antigen and interleukin-2 receptor (Tac) of T-lymphocytes (Leu 4+). Tissue samples of synovial membrane were cut from arthroscopic biopsies of inflamed knees in four patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Consecutive cryostatic sections of rheumatoid sinovium were analysed using monoclonal antibodies. It was found that a high percentage of T-lymphocytes express DR antigen. In contrast the proportion of T cells expressing Tac was small. We conclude that T cell activation in synovial membrane is incomplete, and this disfunction may contribute to the chronic inflammation of RA.