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Biomedical subjects

Nicola Maffulli

Publications and source records attributed to Nicola Maffulli.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Acute rupture of the Achilles tendon.

Achilles tendon ruptures are common, and their incidence is increasing. The evidence for best management is controversial, and, in selected patients, conservative management and early mobilization achieves excellent results. Surgery is associated with an increased risk of superficial skin breakdown; however, modern techniques of percutaneous repair that are performed under local anesthesia and followed by early functional rehabilitation are becoming increasingly common, and should be considered when managing such patients.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed2005

Achilles tendon rupture and tendinopathy: management of complications.

Ailments of the Achilles tendon are on the increase and present in athletic and sedentary patients. The management of tendinopathy and rupture is not codified; Achilles tendon rupture and tendinopathy can be managed conservatively or surgically. Tackling the complications that arise from the management of these conditions provides a formidable challenge to the surgeon. Rupture, rerupture, disordered scarring with potential keloid formation, nerve damage (especially the sural nerve), poor healing, infection, bleeding and hematoma formation, wound dehiscence, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and loss of function have been reported. This article gives an up-to-date account on our personal views of managing complications following Achilles tendon rupture, tendinopathy, and delayed rupture.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed2005

The future: rehabilitation, gene therapy, optimization of healing.

Tendon disorders can be debilitating for patients and are difficult to manage. Current management strategies offer symptomatic relief, but may not result in definitive disease resolution. Despite remodeling, the biochemical and mechanical properties of healed tendon tissue never match those of intact tendon. This article outlines the stages of tendon healing, and reviews the possible strategies for optimizing tendon healing and repair, such as cytokine therapy, gene therapy, and tissue engineering.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Tendinopathy of the main body of the Achilles tendon.

Although Achilles tendinopathy has been extensively studied, there is a clear lack of properly conducted scientific research to clarify its etiology, pathology and optimal management. Emerging non-operative management and heavy load eccentric strengthening protocols based on these theories have yielded encouraging early results. Operative management traditionally produced good to excellent results, but randomized controlled studies comparing different surgical procedures and prospective evaluation of patient outcomes are necessary to truly establish the efficacy of these procedures. As the biology of tendinopathy is being clarified, more effective management regimens may come to light, improving the success rate of both conservative and operative management.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed2005

Insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

There has been significant progress in our understanding of Achilles insertional tendinopathy since Clain and Baxter divided Achilles tendon disorders into noninsertional and insertional tendinopathy in 1992. In this article we specifically concentrate on Achilles insertional tendinopathy. Classically, overuse and poor training habits are considered to be the main etiology of Achilles insertional tendinopathy. This article discusses Achilles insertional tendinopathy from the anatomy of to its management.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed2005

Molecular events in tendinopathy: a role for metalloproteases.

Disorganized, haphazard ineffective healing is a constant feature of chronic tendinopathy. Normal tendon is composed mostly of type I collagen. Tendinopathic tendons, conversely, have a greater proportion of type III collagen, which is associated with tendon rupture. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tendons, because they are either up- or down-regulated in tendinopathy. A balance between MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases is required to maintain tendon homeostasis. The mechanism of activation of MMPs is poorly understood, and their precise role in tendinopathy is unclear.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Achilles tendon disorders: etiology and epidemiology.

The Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon in the human body. Because most Achilles tendon injuries take place in sports and there has been a general increase in popularity of sporting activities, the number and incidence of the Achilles tendon overuse injuries and complete, spontaneous ruptures has increased in the industrialized countries during the last decades. The most common clinical diagnosis of Achilles overuse injuries is tendinopathy. The basic etiology of the Achilles tendinopathy is known to be multi-factorial. Although histopathologic studies have shown that ruptured Achilles tendons have clear degenerative changes before the rupture, many Achilles tendon ruptures take place suddenly without any preceding signs or symptoms.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed2005

Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with a patella-tendon-bone graft may lead to a permanent loss of bone mineral content due to decreased patellar tendon stiffness.

Immobilisation induces bone loss. Evidence from studies in animals and healthy humans that were immobilised for a limited time indicates that, in general, bone mass may be restored even in adults. Following conservative management of partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), bone loss is often negligible (2-3%). After surgical reconstruction, however, there is greater bone loss (15-20%), with little or no recovery. Bones adapt to the stresses they experience. Also, the largest forces in the musculoskeletal system arise from muscle pull. Tendons transmit these forces. Many surgical techniques for ACL reconstruction use autologous tendon grafts. We hypothesise that tissue harvesting causes weakening of the formerly intact tendon, which, in turn, leads to reduced muscle pull and subsequent bone loss in those parts of the bone that are loaded by the tendon. If our hypothesis holds true, it may change patients' and surgeons' choice of management. Clinical follow-up should assess the functional result with greater scrutiny, possibly including the assessment of bone mineral content. This may be particularly important since there is accumulating evidence that a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) preceedes, and hence may be a cause of, osteoarthritis.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Free gracilis tendon graft in neglected tears of the achilles tendon.

OBJECTIVE: To report the results of a longitudinal study on reconstruction of neglected Achilles tendon rupture using a free autologous gracilis tendon graft. DESIGN: Cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-one patients underwent surgery for a neglected rupture of the Achilles tendon occurring between 65 days and 9 months before the operation. METHODS: All participants were prospectively followed up for 2 years, and final review was performed at 28.4 +/- 3.5 months from the operation. Functional (anthropometric measurements, isometric strength, return to activities) and clinical assessment was performed. RESULTS: No patients experienced any problems in the wound used to harvest the tendon of gracilis. Five patients were managed conservatively following a superficial infection of the Achilles tendon surgical wound. No patients developed a deep vein thrombosis or sustained a rerupture. All patients were able to walk on tiptoes, and no patient used a heel lift or walked with a visible limp. The maximum calf circumference remained significantly decreased in the operated leg at final review. The operated limb was significantly less strong than the nonoperated one. CONCLUSIONS: The management of neglected tears of the Achilles tendon by free gracilis tendon grafting is safe but technically demanding. It affords good recovery, even in patients with a neglected rupture of a duration of 9 months. These patients should be warned that they are at risk for postoperative complications, and that their ankle plantar flexion strength can remain reduced.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed2005

Tendon injury and tendinopathy: healing and repair.

Tendon disorders are frequent and are responsible for substantial morbidity both in sports and in the workplace. Tendinopathy, as opposed to tendinitis or tendinosis, is the best generic descriptive term for the clinical conditions in and around tendons arising from overuse. Tendinopathy is a difficult problem requiring lengthy management, and patients often respond poorly to treatment. Preexisting degeneration has been implicated as a risk factor for acute tendon rupture. Several physical modalities have been developed to treat tendinopathy. There is limited and mixed high-level evidence to support the, albeit common, clinical use of these modalities. Further research and scientific evaluation are required before biological solutions become realistic options.

Genetic Therapy↗
PubMed2005

Free gracilis interposition arthroplasty for severe hallux rigidus.

Surgery for the management of hallux rigidus aims to relieve pain and improve function. Arthrodesis, though reliable in terms of pain relief may encounter some resistance from patients reluctant to have a fusion. Results of other techniques, such as silastic implants, may give poor long-term results. Excisional arthroplasty and cheilectomy are also routinely used. Interposition arthroplasty has been used with some success in other joints. We describe a technique of autologous interposition arthroplasty using a free ipsilateral gracilis tendon graft for patients with severe hallux rigidus with moderate to high activity levels and who do not wish to undergo fusion.

Arthroplasty↗
PubMed2005

Segmental radius and ulna fracture with epiphyseal involvement: a case report.

Segmental fractures of the radius and ulna are relatively common in adults, often occurring after high energy trauma. Segmental forearm fractures in children have not previously been reported, and their optimal management is unclear. We report a child of eight years of age who underwent fixation of these injuries with a good outcome.

Bone Plates↗
PubMed2005

Minimally invasive hallux valgus correction: a technical note and a feasibility study.

Hallux valgus surgery aims to correct the nonphysiological angulation of the first ray and rebalance its function. Many techniques are reported, each with different indications depending on the pathoanatomy of the deformity. This article presents a minimally invasive distal metatarsal osteotomy technique, requiring no custom instrumentation. The operation is performed under direct vision and without fluoroscopy.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The short term effects of a single corticosteroid injection on the range of motion of the shoulder in patients with isolated acromioclavicular joint arthropathy.

This study is aimed at evaluating the short-term effects of a single corticosteroid injection of the acromioclavicular joint on the range of motion of the shoulder joint using a three dimensional electromagnetic tracking system (FASTRAK) in patients with isolated unilateral acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) arthropathy. Eighteen patients (16 male, 2 female; mean age: 47.53 years), with isolated unilateral ACJ arthropathy were included in the study. Injection of the symptomatic ACJ with local anaesthetic and corticosteroid was performed under image intensifier guidance. Bilateral shoulder FASTRAK assessment before and two weeks after injection of the symptomatic ACJ was performed, measuring flexion/extension, anatomical abduction, scapular abduction and horizontal cross body adduction. Pain was measured using a visual analogue scale. There was a significant difference in the range of movement between the symptomatic and asymptomatic shoulder before the injection (p < 0.01). Range of extension and pain score of the symptomatic shoulder improved significantly (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) after the injection. In patients with radiographical evidence of degenerative ACJ disease, there was also significant improvement in the range of horizontal flexion (p < 0.05). Injection of the ACJ with local anaesthetic and corticosteroid was found to produce short-term pain relief and partial improvement in the range of movement. FASTRAK is useful in the measurement and documentation of range of motion, and can be used to assess the treatment outcome in patients with isolated ACJ arthropathy.

Acromioclavicular Joint↗
PubMed2005

Gonadal shields in pelvic radiographs in pediatric patients.

We performed a retrospective study of pelvic radiographs of children between August 2003 and January 2004 to determine whether gonadal shields effectively protected the gonads during pelvic radiographs in pediatric patients. We considered 1,047 radiographs of 111 children under the age of 16 years who were examined by the orthopaedic department at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire. The presence and absence of gonadal shields in all the pelvic radiographs was recorded. If the shields were present, then whether the gonads were effectively protected was recorded. An average of 9.4 radiographs were taken per patient. The gonadal shields effectively protected the gonads in 466 (49.2%) radiographs and were completely omitted in 270 (28.5%) radiographs. In the remaining 212 (22.3%) radiographs, the shields did not adequately protect the gonads, which were therefore exposed to radiation in 482 (50.8%) of all the eligible pelvic radiographs. Children receive many radiographs with avoidable excess radiation from inadequate positioning or complete omission of gonadal shields. This may increase the potential for disease in the future offspring of these patients. Strict adherence to guidelines is required to decrease radiation exposure.

Adolescent↗