1,721,088 research outputs found
Safety and tolerability of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (Sinovial®/GELSYN-3tm) injections in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis
No full textOsteoarthritis (OA) is a progressively degenerative joint disease, with a very high prevalence rate that is expected to increase worldwide with the ageing of the population. Considering that OA requires long-term treatment, therapies with minimal side effects and which can be repeated as needed are warranted. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural glycosaminoglycan with viscoelastic properties, is a major component of synovial fluid and the extracellular matrix of the joint cartilage, and plays key roles in maintaining synovial fluid viscosity and the bio-mechanical integrity of healthy cartilage. Intra-articular administration of exogenous HA has therefore been used to successfully improve the viscoelastic properties of the joint to improve lubrication, modulate inflammation and modify the catabolic micro-environment. Sinovial®/GELSYN-3TM is a sterile, non-pyrogenic formulation of highly purified, chemically unmodified HA of bio-fermentative origin, which has been introduced in several different concentrations in clinical use within the European market. This expert opinion reports on the published data regarding the efficacy and tolerability of first and multiple injection series of Sinovial®-based product formulations. The data regarding the tolerability of Sinovial® in patients with knee osteoarthritis were analyzed, showing that this formulation, beside favourable therapeutic effects, has a very good tolerability profile, with only mild, transient, and easily managed, local injection-site reactions and absence of systemic reactions. In particular, repetitive cycles of HA have been shown to yield positive results in terms of both efficacy and safety and therefore should be offered to patients who had undergone a successful first course of therapy when their symptoms reoccur
Mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy in runners with metabolic disorders
No full textIntroduction: Running is a very popular modality of physical activity, which may help to lose weight and normalize pathological values of blood parameters in subjects suffering from metabolic disorders. Given that both overuse and metabolic pathologies are responsible for the onset of tendon damage, aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the first group of pathogenetic factors or the latter was more responsible for mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy. Method: Thirty-six and 28 subjects with and without mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy, who were regular runners and started running for metabolic disorders, were enrolled, respectively. Information about body weight and blood parameters at baseline was collected. The characteristics of running practice, dietary habits and anthropometric measures were registered. An ultrasound evaluation of the tendon was performed, and the blood metabolic parameters were evaluated. Results: The amount of running years and mileage was equivalent in both groups. A similar weight loss was observed; the subjects with mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy showed a worse metabolic profile (Hb1aC%, p = 0.008; total cholesterol, p = 0.04; HDL cholesterol, p = 0.003; triglycerides, p = 0.009). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the subjects with less evident positive effects of running on metabolism are more exposed to the onset of mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy
Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Lavage in the Treatment of Calcific Tendinopathy of Elbow Extensor Tendons: A Case Report
No full textWe report the efficacy of the ultrasound-guided percutaneous treatment in the management of elbow extensor tendons calcific tendinopathy. The ultrasound-guided percutaneous treatment is broadly used with positive results in patients suffering from rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy. However, this interventional method has been reported only in one patient in the medical literature. A 34 years-old female who complained pain, swelling and severe functional limitation of the right elbow was referred to our unit. Elbow radiographs and ultrasound examination showed a soft-fluid calcification above the origin of the extensor tendons. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous treatment was therefore performed. After one year, the patient reported no pain and regained complete range of elbow motion. This method, in well trained hands, is an alternative treatment in the management of the uncommon elbow calcific deposit
Hyaluronic acid in ankle osteoarthritis: why evidence of efficacy is still lacking?
No full textIntra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) are useful in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), as shown by studies on knee, hip, and trapezio-metacarpal joints. The positive results can be explained by several factors: the restoration of elastic and viscous properties of intra-articular fluid, the anti-inflammatory and the anti-nociceptive activity, and the normalisation of hyaluronan synthesis and inhibition of hyaluronic acid degradation. However, evidence of efficacy of hyaluronic acid in ankle osteoarthritis is still lacking: several studies have been performed without a control group, or have shown similar results to those obtained with different therapeutic procedures. The aim of this paper is to analyse the reasons which can explain the discrepancy between the sound biological background and the inconclusive clinical results. First, it must be considered that the ankle joint, from a biomechanical point of view, is more complex than other joints, and that greater stress is sustained by the articular surfaces. Second, the limited benefit can be related to the use of hyaluronic acid mostly in cases of post-traumatic osteoarthritis, where the treatment must be addressed to solve the biomechanical problems, and then to restore the rheological properties of the ankle joint. A third important explanation of the failure may be the improper technique of administration, that has been performed in all studies, but one, without imaging guidance. Indeed, it is well known that hyaluronic acid, if not delivered directly into the intra-articular space, is unlikely to be effective
To evaluate the outcomes of PRP treatment in Achilles tendinopathy: An intriguing methodological problem
No full textIntroduction: Assessing the outcomes of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment in Achilles Tendinopathy (AT) may prove difficult due to several methodological reasons. For example, given that the simple mean of VISA-A score is just the result of positive, negative or null values, this may provide incomplete information, and therefore the size of individual changes can remain unknown. On the contrary, calculating the score changes in each subject after treatment would allow a more appropriate evaluation of the clinical results. However, this method has been applied only to few small-scale studies. Therefore we performed a retrospective study aiming to determine: (1) are the percentages of positive outcomes of the present research were comparable to those of previous studies performed in different settings? (2) Is there a relationship between the size of increase of the clinical score and the patient satisfaction? Hypotheses: The percentages of positive outcomes of the present research comparable to those of previous studies performed in different settings. Material and methods: This is a retrospective observational study. Eighty-four patients submitted to PRP treatment for mid-portion AT were enrolled. Pain and function were evaluated by means of VISA-A scale. Besides the mean, in each subject the pre- and post-treatment difference of VISA-A score was computed and the outcome was defined clinically no detectable, detectable and evident according to the increasing values of the score (0 to 9 points, 10 to 19, and ≥ 20 points change, respectively). The Likert's scale for the patients satisfaction was also used. Results: The mean VISA-A increased significantly after treatment (from 50.1 ± 9.1 at baseline to 63.7 ± 13.8 at 3 months (p = 0.00001) and 67.2 ± 14.1 at 6 months (p = 0.00001)). At 3 and 6 months the subjects belonging to the prefixed categories were 15, 45, 24 and 19, 36, 29, respectively. Moreover, large discrepancies were observed between the size of increase of the clinical score and patients satisfaction, mainly for intermediate increases of the score. Discussion: The percentages of positive outcomes found in this study are slightly lower than those reported in literature. The different patients expectations about the efficacy of the therapy can explain the discrepancies between the size of increase of the clinical score and the individual satisfaction. In comparison to the simple mean, the individual changes of VISA-A score allow a proper evaluation of the outcomes. The research shows that discrepancies can be present in the percentage of positive clinical outcomes between different studies. The size of increase of the clinical score does not always match patient satisfaction. Level of proof: IV retrospective study without control group
Prelievo dei tendini autologhi per la ricostruzione dei legamenti crociati: tecnica chirurgica
No full textOxidative Stress, Testosterone, Cortisol, and Vitamin D: Differences in Professional Soccer Players of African and Caucasian Origin
No full textBACKGROUND: Under conditions of intense exercise, the production of free radicals and cortisol increases, whereas blood levels of testosterone and vitamin D decrease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the behavior of these parameters, ethnic differences, and their relationships with overtraining. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty professional soccer players were studied. Oxidative stress, testosterone, cortisol, and vitamin D were collected in pre- and mid-competitive season, and their differences in Africans and Caucasians were evaluated. RESULTS: An increase in oxidative stress was observed in mid-season in both groups, but this was more significant in Africans (386 ± 162.6 vs. 277.8 ± 106.9 UCarr, p = 0.005; 2,965.4 ± 815.8 vs. 2,560.6 ± 608.1 BAP, p = 0.035). Levels of testosterone and vitamin D were higher in August compared to February in all participants; in both months, testosterone levels were higher in Africans (11.5 ± 2.4 vs. 9.1 ± 2.6, p = 0.004; 10.3 ± 1.6 vs. 7.7 ± 2.3, p = 0.000), whereas vitamin D levels were higher in Caucasians (39.4 ± 11.1 vs. 33.4 ± 9.7, p = 0.048; 31.8 ± 9.7 vs. 27.4 ± 9.4, in August and February, respectively). Insufficient/deficient levels of vitamin D were more frequently observed in Africans, but the difference was close to significance only in August. CONCLUSIONS: Although lower levels of vitamin D and higher levels of cortisol and oxidative stress in mid-season in Africans could have a negative influence on performance, no symptoms of overtraining were observed, probably due to higher levels of testosterone which enable homeostatic balance
Neglected complete bilateral achilles tendon rupture. Clinical case presentation, treatment and follow-up
No full textBackground and aim of the work: subcutaneous Achilles tendon lesions are common degenerative tendon tears, often related to sport activities, multiple pharmacotherapies and internal medical comorbidities. Neglect an Achilles tendon lesion can affect walk ability, while neglect a bilateral lesion could really lead to a serious limitation of self-sufficiency in daily living. We report a case of chronic bilateral Achilles tendon lesion successful treated with LARS augmentation, along with some clinical considerations concerning the clinical outcome. Methods: we report a case of a chronic bilateral Achilles tendon lesion in an elderly man with multiple comorbidities, successful treated with LARS reconstruction, along with some considerations concerning possible intraoperative issues and the clinical outcome. Results: good functional result was obtained as documented with pre and postoperative American Orthopedic Foot And Ankle Society Scale and the “Foot And Ankle Disability Index”, without complications. Conclusions: a bilateral Achilles tendon rupture is a very disabling pathology, that needs prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent further complications. LARS reconstruction could be an effective method in selected patients to avoid some intraoperative issues related to patient comorbidities and ability to follow complex postoperative rehabilitation protocols. (www.actabiomedica.it)
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