Biomedical subjects

G Bettelli

Publications and source records attributed to G Bettelli.

57 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

The results of a multicenter Italian study on the use of the Gamma nail for the treatment of pertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures: a review of 1181 cases.

A total of 1147 pertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures, 10 delays in consolidation and non-union, 24 pathologic fractures and osteolysis with the risk of fracture, treated with a gamma nail in 17 Italian departments of traumatology, were collected. In 70% of the patients weight-bearing was allowed during the first week postsurgery; 77% of the patients followed-up recovered the same ability to walk that had preceded trauma. Complications included intraoperative (1.8%) and postoperative (1.1%) diaphyseal fractures, cephalic screw cut out (2.2%), and breakage of the nail (0.4%). There were two cases of infection (0.3%). Most of the complications were related to errors in technique. The safest procedure is constituted by the choice of a nail with a thinner caliber, 2 mm diaphyseal over-reaming, insertion of the nail without the use of a hammer, and distal locking; the cephalic screw must always be inserted in the lower portion of the femoral head.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrasound in the evaluation of bone fragility caused by osteoporosis: a comparison between different sites of measurement.

The authors compare two different measurement sites of ultrasound transmission velocity (UTV) in discriminating between subjects with or without vertebral fracture caused by osteoporosis. To this purpose a total of 150 women in menopause, of which 50 with vertebral fracture documented radiologically, for whom UTV was measured in the distal radius and in the patella, were examined. In both sites measurement of UTV in fractured women (1531.9 m/sec in the distal radius, and 1825.1 m/sec in the patella) was significantly less than for healthy women (1557.4 m/sec in the distal radius and 1874.5 m/sec in the patella) and there was a significant inverse linear correlation with age. The logistic regression shows that in both sites ultrasound examination is capable of significantly discriminating between osteoporotic women with fracture and those without fracture (odds ratio of the distal radius = 38.857, odds ratio of the patella = 7.822). A comparison of the discriminating capacity of the two measurement sites shows that the ORC curves for the distal radius (area = 0.773) is significantly greater than that of the patella (area = 0.684). Our study confirms that UTV can discriminate healthy subjects from osteoporotic ones, and it shows that the method in question has greater diagnostic sensitivity in the distal radius than in the patella.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Knee prosthesis in rheumatoid patients.

Total knee arthroplasty is a reliable means to improve the quality of life not only in osteoarthritis, but also in rheumatoid patients. Specific aspects, like the low mechanical quality of bone tissue, the contemporary damage of several joints and the higher risk of complications, have to be taken into account in rheumatoid arthritis. The experience with 24 prostheses in 21 rheumatoid patients is reported and confirms the efficacy of this operation. Among the technical details discussed, stress is placed on the conservation of the posterior cruciate ligament, the use of cement, the procedure of patelloplasty instead of prosthetic replacement. Careful preoperative planning is required and resections, especially in the tibia, should be economical. The evaluation of the results according to the protocol of the America Knee Society shows a satisfactory increase both of the articular score (average from 36 to 88) and the functional score (average from 34 to 68).

Aged↗