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Biomedical subjects

Sandro Giannini

Publications and source records attributed to Sandro Giannini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Effect of oral vitamin D2 yearly bolus on hip fracture risk in elderly women: a community primary prevention study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Vitamin D deficiency is a well-known risk for hip fracture, and vitamin D insufficiency is so frequent in the elderly that population-wide preventive intervention would be useful. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D bolus on hip fracture incidence in elderly women. METHODS: All women aged > 65 years registered at Health District 20 of the Regione Veneto, Italy, were eligible for this quasi-experimental, prospective community intervention study. A vial containing 400,000 IU vitamin D2 (Ostelin 800, Teofarma, Italy) was offered for oral administration to all women in the winters of 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. The only exclusion criteria for treatment were age and gender, and the control group included women who did not participate in the Health District initiative. Analysis of hip fracture incidence was carried out for 4 years, from 1999 to 2002. Patients with incident hip fracture were identified as soon as they were admitted to one of the 3 hospitals of the health district and interviewed regarding their participation in the vitamin D preventive intervention program. In 120 of the women (age range 68-90 years), serum concentrations of 25-OH vitamin D were measured from October to June, both before and 1 and 4 months after vitamin D administration. RESULTS: 23,325 and 24,747 women received the vitamin D bolus during winters 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 respectively, i.e. 45-47% of eligible women. The proportion of women who accepted the bolus declined with advancing age, from 50-55% in women aged 60-70 years to 22-26% in those aged > 90 years. The two-year intervention on the community decreased the incidence of fracture by 10% (p = 0.050) in comparison with the previous two years. The age-adjusted risk reduction (RR) of hip fracture during 2001 and 2002 in women who had received vitamin D, with respect to women who had not, decreased by 17% (p = 0.056) and 25% (p = 0.005) respectively. The RR was considerably greater and statistically significant over both 2001 and 2002 in the cohort aged > 75 years. 25-OH vitamin D concentrations, in the subset of women in whom it was measured, rose significantly (p < 0.0001) by 9 ng/ml over 4 months after administration. CONCLUSION: Despite several obvious limitations due to its nature, this study sufficiently documents that yearly vitamin D bolus supplements, given as primary prevention to elderly Caucasian women, may decrease the incidence of hip fracture. For its probable safety and excellent feasibility and cost-effectiveness, this primary intervention has a great potential for generalisability.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2004

The stability of the cemented tibial component of total knee arthroplasty: posterior cruciate-retaining versus posterior-stabilized design.

Micromotion of the tibial component in 40 knee arthroplasties for gonarthrosis was studied using Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis. The stability of this component was assessed for 2 years' postoperatively. In all arthroplasties, an attempt was made to reconstruct the preoperative posterior slope. Posterior cruciate-retaining (CR) and posterior-stabilized (PS) components showed at 2 years a maximum total point motion of 0.6 +/- 0.4 mm and 0.7 +/- 0.5 mm, respectively. Whereas 92.5% of the implants were determined to be stable, 1 of the CR group and 2 of the PS group displayed migration between the first and the second year of at least 0.2 mm. A negative correlation between subsidence of the tibial component at 2 years of follow-up and the difference between preoperative and postoperative tibial slope was found. Consequently, we suggest that restoring the original posterior slope of the tibial plateau must be a goal of tibial component implantation.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Minimally invasive radioguided parathyroidectomy: an attractive therapeutic option for elderly patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) due to a solitary parathyroid adenoma (PA) is moving from traditional bilateral neck exploration (BNE) towards the use of limited neck exploration. The aim of the present study was to define the efficacy of minimally invasive radioguided surgery (MIRS) in PHPT patients with a high probability of a solitary PA with particular regard to benefits achievable in elderly patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population included a total of 266 consecutive PHPT patients who had undergone surgery at our centre between September 1999 and February 2003. Preoperative imaging consisted of [Tc]pertechnetate/Tc sestamibi (TcO4/sestamibi) scintigraphy and neck ultrasound obtained in the same session. One hundred and eighty-seven patients from the whole series (75 of whom were older than 65 years) with a high scan/ultrasound probability of a solitary PA, a high PA sestamibi uptake, and a normal thyroid gland were selected for MIRS. The other 79 patients were selected for traditional BNE. The intra-operative technique was based on the injection of a low dose (37 MBq) of sestamibi in the operating theatre a few minutes before the beginning of intervention and on the use of an 11 mm collimated gamma probe. RESULTS: MIRS was successfully performed in 97.8% of all PHPT patients selected for this type of surgery and, in particular, in 100% of the subgroup (n=75) of elderly patients. MIRS required a mean operating time of 35 min and a mean hospital stay of 1.2 days; that is, approximately half of that required for traditional BNE. Moreover, local anaesthesia was successfully performed in 27 patients, 19 of whom were >65 years with concomitant invalidating diseases contraindicating general anaesthesia. No major surgical complications were recorded. Transitory hypocalcaemia was observed in 9% of cases treated with MIRS compared with 27% of patients treated with BNE. CONCLUSION: MIRS can be accurately planned in elderly PHPT patients with a solitary PA on the basis of a TcO4/sestamibi scan and neck ultrasound. MIRS has been proven to be safe and effective in our experience, and allows a significant reduction of operating and recovery time, as well as the possibility of using local anaesthesia, especially in elderly patients with concomitant invalidating diseases.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2004

Mobility of the human ankle and the design of total ankle replacement.

Our prior research has shown that currently available total ankle implants fail to restore physiologic ankle mobility. Most of the modern mobile-bearing designs that feature a flat tibial component and a talar component with anatomic curvature in the sagittal plane function nonphysiologically with the natural ligament apparatus. To establish a more natural relationship between the implanted components and the retained ankle ligaments, we have developed a new design. According to our prior research, we suggest that physiologic ankle mobility is reproduced best with a design featuring a spherical convex tibial component, a talar component with radius of curvature in the sagittal plane longer than that of the natural talus, and a fully conforming meniscal component. Our preliminary observations in trial implantation and in a few patients suggest that while reproducing physiologic ankle mobility, the new design is capable of maintaining complete congruence at the two articulating surfaces of the meniscal bearing over the entire motion arc, with the prospect of minimizing wear of this component.

Ankle Joint↗
PubMed2004

HA-coated screws decrease the incidence of fixation failure in osteoporotic trochanteric fractures.

This study was done to determine if elderly patients with trochanteric fractures and with osteoporosis could benefit from treatment with a dynamic hip screw fixed with HA-coated AO/ASIF screws. One hundred twenty patients with AO, A1, or A2 trochanteric fractures were selected. Patients were divided into two groups and randomized to receive a 135 degree-four-hole dynamic hip screw fixed with either standard lag and cortical AO/ASIF screws (Group A), or HA-coated lag and cortical AO/ASIF screws (Group B). Lag screw cutout occurred in four patients in Group A, but not in any patients in Group B. In Group A, the femoral neck shaft angle was 134 degrees +/- 5 degrees postoperatively and 127 degrees +/- 12 degrees at 6 months. In Group B, the femoral neck shaft angle was 134 degrees +/- 7 degrees postoperatively and 133 degrees +/- 7 degrees at 6 months. The Harris hip score at 6 months was 60 +/- 25 in Group A and 71 +/- 18 in Group B. The superior results of Group B can be attributed to the increased screw fixation provided by the HA-coated screws. We recommend lag screws coated with HA for dynamic hip screw fixation, especially in osteoporotic bone.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Interdigital neuroma: clinical examination and histopathologic results in 63 cases treated with excision.

Between November 1993 and September 1999, 60 patients (three bilateral) were consecutively treated with excision of interdigital neuroma. The clinical examination was preoperatively performed and a personal interview, physical examination, and routine radiographs were included. A specific clinical rating system was developed. The clinical results were excellent or good in 49 (78%) feet, fair in 12 (19%), and poor in two (3%). Prior to surgery, the clinical evaluation score was an average of 16 points. Postoperative average score was 67 points, with an average improvement of 50 points. Histopathologically, intraneural fibrosis and sclerohyalinosis were observed, as in the interstitium; furthermore, an increase of the elastic fibers in the stroma was also observed. The precise etiology of interdigital neuroma remains obscure.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Operative treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talar dome: current concepts review.

Osteochondral lesions of the talar dome are common problems encountered in orthopaedics. Procedures for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus, including debridement of the joint, shaving of fibrillated cartilage, and resection or perforation of subchondral bone in the last decade, have been performed arthroscopically with very low morbidity. These seem to be inadequate in lesions larger than 1.5 cm(2) and have not been histologically effective in restoring the hyaline cartilage sheath. Osteochondral allografts or autogenous grafts and autologous chondrocyte transplantation have proven to be capable of restoring the articular hyaline cartilage surface, including defects larger than 2 cm(2), although with higher costs and morbidity. In this review, the aforementioned methods of operative treatment are examined and issues that are related to these methods are discussed.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2003

The effect of age, weight, and lifestyle factors on calcaneal quantitative ultrasound: the ESOPO study.

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) techniques have been shown to be as good as bone mineral density (BMD) assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), in predicting fracture risk: QUS technique could increase substantially the accessibility to a reliable bone osteoporosis risk evaluation, but little is know regarding the relationship of QUS to risk factors that have been found to predict DXA-BMD values and this is even more true in men. We studied 6,811 postmenopausal women 40 to 80 years of age and 4,981 men 60-80 years of age representative of the general population of all regions of Italy. All participants were questioned on lifestyle habits and on their medical history. After a physical examination "bone stiffness" (called here for simplicity, stiffness), which is derived from the values of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and speed of sounds (SoS) was measured by a heel QUS device (Achilles apparatus, Lunar, Madison, USA). The most common recognized determinants of bone mass (either categorical or continuous variables) were modeled with stiffness by multiple regression analysis or ANOVA. Stiffness was strongly related to age and weight. After adjusting for these variables, the women who had taken hormone replacement therapy for more than a year had significantly higher stiffness values. The difference versus nonusers remained significant for up to 20 years-since-menopause (YSM). This effect was so strong that for further analysis these women were excluded. By multivariate analysis, stiffness was then found to be significantly related to recalled body weight at 25 years of age, actual and past cigarettes smoked per day, and dairy calcium intake. Stiffness was also associated with a number of categorial factors adjusted for age, weight, and YSM: prior ovariectomy, history of more than 2 months confined to bed, outdoor physical activity, smoking, chronic use of any drug, and past corticosteroid use. All these categorial and continuous variables predicted stiffness equally in men and women. In conclusion, QUS bone measurements discriminate postmenopausal women according to past use of hormone replacement therapy. Risk factors usually associated to BMD as measured by DXA are also associated to calcaneal bone stiffness as measured by QUS, and most risk factors for osteoporosis usually observed in women are equally applicable to men.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2003

Preventing osteoporotic fractures with bisphosphonates: a review of the efficacy and tolerability.

Although change in bone mineral density was the outcome most commonly measured in early clinical trials of osteoporosis therapies, it is now understood that the most clinically important outcome is reduction in the risk of fractures. Of currently available osteoporosis therapies, the bisphosphonates have been most thoroughly investigated in studies with fracture risk as the primary outcome. The most widely studied bisphosphonates include etidronate, alendronate and risedronate. Alendronate and risedronate have the most compelling evidence for vertebral and non-vertebral fracture reduction. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the anti-fracture efficacy of bisphosphonates at the spine, hip, and non-vertebral sites.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed2003

Plate fixation with hydroxyapatite-coated screws: a comparative loaded study.

The authors evaluated whether AO/ASIF screws coated with hydroxyapatite are better fixed than standard screws in a highly loaded plate fixation animal study. Twelve sheep were divided into two groups. The medial tibial middiaphysis was exposed and a 5-mm long bone cylinder was removed. The tibiae were fixed with six-hole dynamic compression plates. Six sheep received standard AO/ASIF stainless steel cortical screws (Group A), and six sheep received AO/ASIF stainless steel cortical screws coated with hydroxyapatite (Group B). Three months after surgery, the sheep were euthanized. The mean screw insertion torque was 4800 +/- 768 N/mm in Group A and 4847 +/- 450 N/mm in Group B. The mean screw extraction torque was 530 +/- 374 N/mm in Group A and 3733 +/- 849 N/mm in Group B. Extraction torque of Group A was significantly lower compared with the corresponding insertion torque. In Group B, there were no differences between extraction and insertion torque. Morphologic analyses showed marked fibrous tissue encapsulation in Group A and bone to screw direct contact in Group B. The results confirm that hydroxyapatite-coated AO/ASIF screws prevent deterioration of screw anchorage, even under highly loaded conditions. By using hydroxyapatite-coated screws, complications resulting from inadequate fixation could be avoided.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Operative treatment of flatfoot with talocalcaneal coalition.

Rigid flatfoot or peroneal spastic flatfoot often is associated with a congenital fibrous, cartilaginous, or osseous union of two tarsal bones or more, potentially causing great difficulties in its treatment. Since 1996, 12 patients (14 feet) with painful flatfoot and restricted motion of the hindfoot attributable to talocalcaneal coalition, were treated by resection of the coalition and subtalar arthroereisis by a bioreabsorbable implant. The results were evaluated by the ankle hindfoot clinical rating system of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. These clinical results also were evaluated statistically. Radiographs and computed tomography scans were taken preoperatively and postoperatively. Eight (57.1% of patients) had excellent results, three (21.4% of patients) had good results, and three (21.4% of patients) had fair results. No poor results, or subjective or objective complications were reported. On the basis of these early results, arthroereisis by implanting a bioreabsorbable device after removal of the tarsal coalition, seems to be an effective procedure for the treatment of symptomatic flatfoot associated with talocalcaneal coalitions: correcting the relationship between talus and calcaneus, restoring the alignment of the hindfoot, and reducing pain.

Absorbable Implants↗
PubMed2003

Role of passive structures in the mobility and stability of the human subtalar joint: a literature review.

The subtalar joint plays a fundamental role in the transmission of loads between the leg and the foot. Although anatomical structures of this joint have been described extensively, much ambiguity about their location, shape, and function still persists. There is also disagreement regarding mobility, for example, whether the joint can be considered a hinge, screw-like, or a multiaxial joint. The most relevant studies from the literature are reported and the main experimental observations discussed. Recent studies have described the subtalar joint as a structure with no degrees of unresisted freedom, i.e., motion from the single neutral position is attained only by deformation of the ligaments and of the articular surfaces.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed2003

Hypercalciuria is a common and important finding in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: The prevalence and the effects of hypercalciuria on bone in patients with primary osteoporosis are poorly defined. We therefore retrospectively analyzed the data of 241 otherwise healthy women. They were 45-88 years of age and had been referred for their first visit to our Unit for Metabolic Bone Diseases over a 2-year period because of primary osteoporosis (bone density T-score < -2.5). METHODS: The main parameters of calcium and skeletal metabolism had been analyzed in all subjects. This population was then divided into two groups, according to the presence (HC+) or absence (HC-) of hypercalciuria. RESULTS: Elevated urinary calcium was present in 19% of the subjects. Due to the selection criteria, spinal and femoral bone loss was similar in the two groups. Urinary calcium, phosphate and fractional calcium excretion were higher in hypercalciuric patients. In a logistic regression model, the higher the Tm of phosphate, the lower the risk of hypercalciuria (odds ratio 0.33, confidence interval 0.18-0.62). On the contrary, hypercalciuria was the most important predictor of low bone mass in HC+ (accounting for more than 50% of the variance in spinal bone density). CONCLUSIONS: Hypercalciuria is a common feature in postmenopausal bone loss. Since increased urinary calcium excretion and low bone mass appear to be linked, hypercalciuria seems to be an important determinant of reduced bone density in this setting as well.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2002

Fixation strength of tapered versus bicylindrical hydroxyapatite-coated external fixation pins: an animal study.

The purpose of this study was to comparatively measure the bone-pin interface strength in two types of hydroxyapatite-coated pins that differed in shape, diameter, and implantation technique. Both pin types are commonly used for tibia fixation. Thirty bicylindrical 5/4-mm stainless-steel pins (Group A) and 30 tapered 6/5-mm stainless-steel pins (Group B) were implanted in the left tibiae of 10 adult sheep. A monolateral fixator was mounted on the pins after implantation. A 5-mm-long bone segment was removed from the tibial mid-diaphysis to ensure high load at the bone-pin interface. Pin insertion torque was 830 +/- 446 N/mm in Group A and 3415 +/- 743 N/mm in Group B (p<0.0001, one-way ANOVA). Six weeks after surgery, the sheep were euthanized and pin extraction torque measured. Pin extraction torque was 1237 +/- 499 N/mm in Group A and 3367 +/- 1512 N/mm in Group B (p<0.0001, Mann-Whitney test). Morphological analysis performed at 60x magnification showed a direct bone-pin contact in both groups. Despite challenging biomechanical conditions, this study showed both pin types to be well-fixed and osteointegrated. Therefore, both pin types are recommended for tibial fixation. However, the tapered pins showed higher extraction torque, an important result for external fixation treatments.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Osteoarticular grafts in the treatment of OCD of the talus: mosaicplasty versus autologous chondrocyte transplantation.

Further advancements in articular cartilage transplantation require an understanding of the anatomy, physiology, biomaterials, biology, and cartilage engineering that are fundamental for better results in joint arthroplasty and cartilage repair. Currently, efforts to induce healing and regeneration of cartilage are being directed toward enhancing the natural potential of cartilage to replace the damaged tissue with cells that can generate cartilage. Mosaicplasty and ACT are carried out in the same way, have similar therapeutic indications, and have been demonstrated capable of reconstructing hyaline cartilage with similar clinical results. ACT is the most recent technique and, in the authors' opinion, is preferable in that it is less invasive at the donor site and gives better histologic results because of the reconstruction of a continuous cartilage sheath compared with that achieved by mosaicplasty. Furthermore, with this technique, it is possible to forecast the possibility of improvement owing to further technical and biologic advancements. The authors are currently experimenting with the use of adhesive patches with substitution of the periosteum, resulting in less morbidity. The use of growth factors and new tissue engineering techniques in the future would simplify the methodology, rendering it less invasive and more effective.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Treating work-injured patients in Europe. The Italian experience.

According with to International Labor Office, the European Union gave the directions to improve the life of workers not only by regulating care, but also safety and return to work. Each European country is conforming to this. In Italy, INAIL, an independent body under the control of the Department of Labor and the Ministry of Health, covers the workers for occupational accidents and is funded by an insurance premium, obligatory paid by the employer. INAIL has the medicolegal task of assessment of injuries, supply of prostheses, physical therapy, and various compensation according to the degree of disability and the type of work. The specific treatment of the injured workers is carried out by the SSN, which is in charge of the outpatient treatment and hospitalization; however, INAIL contributes to the costs according to agreements made with each region. Although on one hand the injured worker is fully protected by the regulations, on the other hand, he or she is obliged to abide to the laws of security and to undergo treatment offered. In returning to work, certain factors are taken into account, such as percentage of disability, type of work, and discomfort that disability produces in carrying out work. Should the type or severity of the disability not allow complete return to work, support is given to assess and integrate the reduced working ability of the injured worker with regards to the workplace, even by adapting the latter to solve structural and environmental problems. INAIL, in accordance with the European Council, is committed to the total care of the worker and not only worker meaning "work force." In fact, health care and economic aid are integrated with the safety and rehabilitation of the worker and his or her return to family, social, and working life.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2002

State of the art review: techniques to avoid pin loosening and infection in external fixation.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this manuscript is to review techniques of optimizing the interface between the bone and pin in external fixation to minimize pin loosening and infection. CONCLUSIONS: Among the different techniques to improve the bone-pin interface in external fixation, coating the pins with hydroxyapatite proved to be the most effective. In a highly loaded animal study, three pin types were compared. Type A remained uncoated, type B was coated with hydroxyapatite, and Type C was coated with titanium. Radiographic rarefaction of the bone pin tract was lower in type B pins. Extraction torque was thirteen times higher in type B pins compared to type A and two times higher compared to type C pins. Extraction torque was significantly lower compared to the corresponding insertion torque in both types A and C. In contrast, in the hydroxyapatite coated pins there was no difference between extraction and insertion torque. At sixty times magnification, bone pin contact of type B and C pins was significantly higher than type A. At 10,000 times magnification direct bone pin contact was found only in type B pins. In a clinical study the pin insertion and extraction torque forces were measured in a study of seventy-six external fixation pins in nineteen patients treated with hemicallotasis for osteoarthritis of the medial side of the knee. The patients were randomized to be treated with either standard tapered pins or tapered pins coated with hydroxyapatite. Extraction torque of the hydroxyapatite coated pins was higher than the standard ones in both cancellous and cortical bone. These studies show that in hydroxyapatite coated pins there is no deterioration of the bone-pin interface strength and there is optimal bone-pin contact. Among the various pin types coated with hydroxyapatite, the best results were obtained with the tapered pins.

Animals↗