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Biomedical subjects

W Del Pizzo

Publications and source records attributed to W Del Pizzo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A series of ten discoid medial menisci.

In a retrospective study, 14,731 menisci were examined to determine the incidence of discoid medial and lateral menisci. Of 8040 medial menisci, ten (0.12%) were discoid. Of 6691 lateral menisci, 102 (1.5%) were discoid. Only 22 discoid medial menisci have been reported in the medical literature. The previously reported cases were analyzed as one series and compared with the present series of ten cases as another. The incidence rate of symptoms in patients older than 18 years of age was 62% in the present series and 65% in the other series. The male to female ratio was three to one in both series. In 38% of the patients in this series trauma preceded meniscal symptoms, as compared with 66% in the literature series. Radiographic abnormalities had been reported in two of the patients reported in the literature, but none were noticed in our series. In both series, all patients recovered following meniscectomy, with the exception of one patient in our series, who developed chondromalacia patella from an unrelated patellar abnormality.

Adolescent↗

Thomas B. Quigley, M.D., and the meniscus.

Utilizing material from a registry of knee surgery, subsequent operations relating to meniscectomy were reviewed. The overall reoperation rate for the entire series was 30%; 6% of the patients eventually had at least the other meniscus removed. One out of ten had subsequent anterior stabilization with or without removal of the meniscus. Only 4% had an osteotomy, knee replacement or arthrodesis at a later date. Further and expanded studies may aid in further understanding the ultimate fate of meniscectomized knees. Longer follow-up examinations are required to evaluate the long term results following removal of the meniscus through the operative arthroscope.

Arthrodesis↗

Patellofemoral replacement.

From an analysis of the clinical evaluation of 85 cases and subsequent revisionary procedures, patients for isolated patellofemoral joint replacements should be carefully selected. At the present time, the primary indications are distortion or severe degeneration of the femoral groove.

Adult↗

Retained posterior horn of the medial meniscus.

The incidence of a symptomatic retained posterior fragment of the medial meniscus in 2 different groups of patients with medial meniscectomy is compared. If the original surgery was done through one capsular incision, there was a 9.5% incidence of symptomatic retained posterior fragment as compared to 0.2% incidence if the original surgery was performed through 2 capsular incisions. For total excision of the meniscus medial meniscectomy should be performed through 2 capsular incisions.

Humans↗

Ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome in baseball players.

Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow has been described in the literature. This paper deals with 19 skeletally mature baseball players with ulnar nerve entrapment who underwent surgery for correction of the problem. The surgery consisted of anterior transfer of the nerve and placement deep to the flexor muscles. Six players quit baseball because of continuing elbow problems, nine returned to playing, and four were lost to follow-up. Ulnar nerve entrapment is thought to represent one syndrome in a spectrum of diseases involving the medial side of the elbow in baseball players. The lesion is amenable to surgery.

Adolescent↗

Arthroscopy of the knee under general anesthesia: an aid to the determination of ligamentous instability.

During a 34-month period (March 1976 through December 1978), 790 patients underwent arthroscopic examination of the knee under general anesthesia. Preoperative assessment of ligementous instability was compared with the ligamentous examination while under general anesthesia. Eight percent of the patients with no preoperative instability first demonstrated ligamentous instability under general anesthesia. Thirty-six percent of the patients with preoperative instability and 27% of the patients with previous surgery had either an increased grade or additional component of instability found when examined under general anesthesia. Information gained from arthroscopy without a comprehensive ligament examination under anesthesia may result in an incomplete diagnosis and ineffective treatment. Patients at high risk include those with acute injuries, preoperative instability, or previous surgery.

Adult↗

Intraarticular substitution for anterior cruciate insufficiency. A clinical comparison between patellar tendon and meniscus.

Forty two patients with functionally incapacitating 2+ or 3+ anterior instability underwent anterior cruciate ligament substitution using a meniscus (25 patients) or central third of the patellar tendon (17 patients). Subjective and objective evaluations were personally performed on all patients with an average followup of 15 months. Seventy-nine percent of the patients were objectively graded successful. Objective results were primarily based on the surgeon's technical ability to correct completely all components of anterior instability at the time of surgery. Subjective results were multifactorial and were correlated primarily with patient expectations, the presence or absence of continued buckling and the ability to return to recreational activities. The only observed difference between the two types of cruciate substitutions was the average loss of 6 degrees of flexion in the central third of the patellar tendon group. Both the patellar tendon and meniscus clinically appeared to be successful intraarticular cruciate substitutes which can predictably correct moderate to severe anterior instability of the knee in a high percentage of patients.

Adolescent↗

Acute posterior cruciate ligament injuries.

One hundred and two posterior cruciate ligament injuries were reviewed (43 chronic and 59 acute repairs). The 59 acute repairs were profiled as to cause and site of injury, associated ligamentous damage, clinical examination, patient position at surgery, and reoperation rate. Twenty-two patients were followed up. Motor vehicle accidents and athletics were the usual causes of injury. In the 59 acute repairs, the posterior cruciate avulsion site was femoral in 21, midsubstance in 13, and tibial in 25. The high incidence of associated injuries included medial collateral ligament tears, capsular damage, lateral knee component damage, and anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. Thirteen of 59, believed to have isolated tears, had surgery in the prone position. Twelve were subsequently reoperated. Eight of 12 reoperations were done prone initially for an "isolated" tear. Our acute knees with poor results all had the most supposed "isolated" and midsubstance tears, and the most popliteal surgery. The posterior cruciate ligament tear is due to major violence with associated ligament injuries and has no single universal physical sign. Arthroscopy and examination under anesthesia are recommended to prevent the missed diagnosis (chronic case) or to clarify a suspected "isolated" tear prior to prone popliteal surgery.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Arthroscopic "second look" at the GORE-TEX ligament.

We performed an arthroscopic "second look" in 21 knees (20 patients) that had arthroscopic implantation of the GORE-TEX prosthesis for chronic ACL insufficiency. Arthroscopy was done on eight knees at the time of screw removal, eight for knee pain, two for giving way, and three for recurrent effusions. The degree of synovial joint reaction, graft synovial ingrowth, and graft rupture was graded. Microscopic examination was carried out on all biopsies of the GORE-TEX ligament. The average patient age was 30 years and the average time interval from original implantation to second look was 11 months. The GORE-TEX was intact in 11 knees, 10% ruptured in 6, and completely ruptured in 4. There was no correlation between number of GORE-TEX strands ruptured and synovial reaction. No particles of the graft were noted in the synovium if the implant was intact, but particles were noted with graft rupture. We conclude that the intact GORE-TEX ligament is an inert substance and does not cause significant joint reaction. Impingement in the intercondylar notch appeared to be the most common cause of graft failure. Further study is critical to determine the natural history of the GORE-TEX ligament and the knees' response to this prosthetic device.

Arthroscopy↗

Four to ten year followup of unreconstructed anterior cruciate ligament tears.

Both operative and nonoperative methods have been advocated for the treatment of ACL tears. However, the optimum management of this injury remains controversial. In the present study, patients treated nonoperatively were evaluated retrospectively 4 to 10 years after ACL tears were documented by arthroscopy and by mild to moderate pivot shifts under anesthesia. Forty-nine patients who underwent arthroscopic evaluation of the knee between 1976 and 1982 were found to have complete tears of the ACL. A mild to moderate pivot shift was present under anesthesia. One or both menisci were torn in two-thirds of the knees, requiring partial meniscectomies. The average age of the patients was 27 years (range, 16 to 46 years). Because of persistent disabling instability, 9 patients (18%) underwent late ACL reconstruction. The remaining 40 patients were evaluated at an average of 5.6 years after documentation of the tear (range, 4 to 10 years). At followup, 25 (62%) of the 40 patients had satisfactory subjective results. Eight of the patients (20%) had returned to their preinjury level of athletic activities without restrictions, and 10 (25%) functioned at the same level but with symptoms, some patients requiring bracing. Seventeen patients (43%) had diminished their level of sports activities, while 5 patients (12%) had given up all sports. Only 2 patients required late meniscectomies. On physical examination, 27 patients (87%) had pivot shifts. Instrumented laxity testing revealed an injured to normal difference of 3.1 mm with a 20 pound force. Radiographic studies were interpreted as normal in 35% of the knees, whereas 65% demonstrated mild degenerative changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Arthroscopic treatment of anterolateral impingement of the ankle.

We studied 31 patients (17 females, 14 males; average age, 34) with more than 2 years of followup who had chronic anterolateral ankle pain following inversion injury. All had failed to respond to at least 2 months of conservative treatment and had negative stress radiographs to rule out instability. On physical examination, tenderness was localized to the anterolateral corner of the talar dome. Magnetic resonance imaging was the most useful diagnostic screening test, showing synovial thickening consistent with impingement in the anterolateral gutter. At an average of 24 months after injury, all patients underwent ankle arthroscopy, which showed proliferative synovitis and fibrotic scar tissue in the lateral gutter, often with associated chondromalacia of the talus. Operative arthroscopic treatment consisted of partial synovectomy with debridement of scar tissue from the lateral gutter. Postoperatively, patients walked with crutches allowing weightbearing as tolerated. Average return to sports was 6 weeks. Histopathologic analysis performed on the resected tissue showed synovial changes consistent with chronic inflammation. Results of treatment after at least 2 year followup were 15 excellent, 11 good, 4 fair, and 1 poor. Since there are several distinct causes of chronic ankle pain, we prefer to call this problem "anterolateral impingement of the ankle" and believe the term "chronic sprain pain" should be discarded.

Ankle Injuries↗

Arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the pes anserine tendons. Comparison of results in acute and chronic ligament deficiency.

Fifty anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees treated consecutively with arthroscopically assisted reconstruction using a pes anserine tendon autograft were retrospectively studied. The mean followup was 36.7 months (range, 26 to 58). All patients had reconstruction with a double-stranded graft. The mean injury to surgery interval was 9.6 days in 22 patients (acute group) and 22.5 months in 28 patients (chronic group). Objective outcome, which was noted to be more optimal in the acute group, was better than subjective outcome in either group. Examination revealed 95% of patients treated acutely and 82% of those treated later to have 1+ or less Lachman test result (P < 0.036) and 96% of the acute group and 82% of the chronic group to have an absent pivot shift (P < 0.036). Eighty-eight percent of acutely treated patients had a KT-1000 result of < or = 3 mm, as compared to 61% of chronically treated patients (P < 0.001). Loss of range of motion was significantly greater in the acute group (P < 0.018). Using a strict overall rating system, patients reconstructed earlier were noted to have a better outcome compared to those after delayed reconstruction (P < 0.021). Cumulative meniscal injury appears to be the most significant contributing factor.

Acute Disease↗

Critical analysis of knee ligament rating systems.

Sixty-five patients who consecutively underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were studied using four individual, categoric, knee score rating systems. Different results were noted at followup (mean, 35 months; range, 24 to 58) depending on the rating method used. Ali patients were graded using the Hospital for Special Surgery, Lysholm, Tegner activity, and Cincinnati Knee Ligament rating systems. The Cincinnati Knee Ligament rating individual scores were noted to be lower than the Hospital for Special Surgery and Lysholm scores for subjective and objective outcome assessment. The Hospital for Special Surgery and Lysholm scores did not correlate highly with the Cincinnati Knee Ligament rating final rating, but they did correlate with each other. The use of ligament rating scores tended to inflate results, particularly when raw scores were converted to overall categoric ratings (e.g., excellent, good). The Cincinnati Knee Ligament rating system correlates more highly with individual grading and most precisely defines outcome in athletically active patients. Sources of error may be introduced by a disproportionate combination of unrelated scores or by overrating low-activity-level individuals who avoid stressing their knees. Avoidance of data generalization remains the optimal method for studying anterior cruciate ligament surgery outcome.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Analysis of 100 patients with anterolateral rotatory instability of the knee.

Of 100 consecutive patients with anterolateral rotatory instability analyzed, 84 were males and the average age was 27.4 years. Over 50 per cent were injured while participating in athletics and 40 per cent were injured during daily activities. The group averaged 1.2 operations prior to diagnosis. The most frequently performed procedures were medial meniscectomy, pes anserinus transfer and medial capsular reefings. Eighty-four of 100 patients underwent surgery during the study period. Seventy-one had combined rotatory instability and 13 had anterior lateral rotatory instability alone. Sixty-six patients had articular cartilage damage. Before treating the anterolateral rotatory instability, it is necessary to identify and treat other commonly associated abnormalities.

Adolescent↗

Preliminary results with abrasion arthroplasty in the osteoarthritic knee.

A retrospective survey of 110 patients treated by arthroscopic debridement of the knee joint was conducted; 73 of 100 operations included abrasion arthroplasty. The average follow-up period was one year. All patients had Grade IV articular changes. Overall, 60% of the patients who underwent abrasion arthroplasty showed improvement, while the knee was unchanged in 34% and worse in 6%. The results were best in patients younger than 40 years of age. Forty-one patients had medial compartment abrasion in concert with pathologic medial meniscal conditions; 53% of these patients were improved. In a comparable group of 37 patients treated by medial compartment debridement and medial meniscectomy without abrasion only 32% showed improvement. Thus, tentative results in this small series of patients treated by abrasion arthroplasty are encouraging. Further investigations in a larger series are warranted to determine the long-term results of the procedure.

Adult↗