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Background: Chronic dislocation of the radial head treatment in Monteggia fracture dislocation is still controversial. We present a large series of patients treated in our Institution., Materials and Methods: The outcome of 22 children treated surgically between 1988 and 2011 for post-traumatic chronic radial head dislocation is reported. There were 12 girls and 10 boys with a mean age at surgery of 7.2 years (4.1-13.6). The mean interval between injury and treatment was 15.7 months (1-128). Nine patients underwent open reduction with removal of interposed tissue and repair (7) or Bell-Tawse reconstruction (2) of the annular ligament. Ten patients underwent osteotomy, gradual lengthening and angulation of the ulna by external fixation. Two patients underwent angular osteotomy of the proximal ulna with open wedge, open reduction in the radial head and reconstruction of the annular ligament. One patient admitted to the hospital 10 years after injury underwent radial head excision at 13.7 years of age., Results: After a mean follow-up of 5.5 years (1-24.3), the radial head stayed reduced in 15 patients and subluxated in 5. In one case, redislocation occurred. All patients but five were pain-free. The elbow performance score (Kim score) was excellent in 14 cases, good in four and fair in four, with a mean score of 91, corresponding to a good result. Complications included a transient posterior interosseus nerve palsy (1), and one non-union of the ulna., Discussion and Conclusion: Chronic Monteggia lesions must be treated. The clinical outcomes are usually better than the congruency of the radiocapitellar joint.

Radial head prosthetic replacement is indicated in case of comminuted fracture not amenable to internal fixation, especially when the radial head fracture is part of a pattern of lesions configuring a complex instability of the elbow. Thirty-one SBi radial head prostheses were implanted in 30 patients (one bilateral simultaneous fracture) over a 2 years period. In 10 patients, the mean time from trauma to surgical treatment was 2.4 days, while the remaining 20 patients were treated as "second opinion" cases presenting with elbow stiffness or instability after an average of 19 days from trauma. The implants were monopolar in 12 cases and bipolar in 19. The clinical results were evaluated through the Mayo Elbow performance scoring system. At an average follow-up of 2 years (range 13-36 months), the mean MEPS was 90 points (range 65-100). At late radiographic analysis, radiolucent lines around the stem were found in 11 of the 31 cases. Heterotopic ossifications were found in 14 cases. Bone resorption was observed in 9 cases. Two of the 31 prostheses were removed after 16 and 20 months, in one case to correct stiffness in pronation/supination, in the other one for asymptomatic aseptic mobilization. These short-term results are satisfactory, especially when considering that they were obtained in complex elbow lesions treated in many cases at a delayed stage. Our preference over time went more and more to bipolar implants, but from a comparison of the results we could find no evidence of a superiority of bipolar or monopolar implants. The evolution of these prostheses needs to be evaluated with further studies to assess mid-term and long-term follow-up results.

The high incidence of recurrent tendon tears after repair of massive cuff lesions is prompting the research of materials aimed at mechanically or biologically reinforcing the tendon. Among the materials studied upto now, the extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds of human origin have proved to be the safest and most efficient, but the current laws about grafts and transplants preclude their use in Europe. In order to overcome this condition in 2006, we started a project regarding the production of an ECM scaffold of human origin which could be implanted in Europe too. In 2009, the clinical study began with the implantation of dermal matrix scaffolds in 7 middle-aged patients affected with large/massive cuff lesions and tendon degeneration. Out of 5 cases, followed for at least 1 year in which the scaffold was employed as an augmentation device, there were 3 patients with complete healing, 1 partial re-tear, and 1 total recurrence. The absence of adverse inflammatory or septic complications allows to continue this line of research with a prospective controlled study in order to define the real advantages and correct indications offered by scaffold application.

Sterno Clavicular Joint (SCJ) dislocations are rare injuries of the shoulder girdle. Their management is controversial due to a not guaranteed outcome after any kind of treatment (conservative or open). Open reduction is challenging because of the anatomical site, while the conservative treatment does not always improve pain or instability discomfort. We report a case of traumatic and painful anterior SCJ dislocation of a young policewoman treated with open reduction by a new surgical technique. Functional result is extremely good at 2 years of follow-up.

Invalidating elbow contractures, a frequent problem after injury, are commonly treated by physical therapy or surgical release. In both cases, results can be frustrating: physical therapy is often not sufficient to gain functional range of motion, and after surgical release it is common to lose part of the motion gained in operating room. Thanks to the viscous-elastic properties of the soft tissue, the mobilization elbow braces can stretch the retracting or retracted tissues inducing a biological lengthening of collagen fibres. In post-traumatic contracture, mobilization braces are effectively employable in two main critical situations: to treat recent onset contractures which do not respond to simple physical therapy and to help in preserving range of motion gained after surgical release. We report our experience with mobilization brace used in 42 patients, 5 for post-traumatic contracture, 4 for contracture following articular fracture fixation and 33 after surgical release. Classification, indications and treatment protocols of the mobilization braces utilized are reported.

We report two cases of scapula-thoracic dyskinesia with different etiologies where both patients complained of functional limitation and pain in the shoulder. The first case was caused by a road accident, the second by sequelae of surgery to remove aggressive scapula-axillary fibromatosis. In both patients, therapy with botulin toxin type A (Botox) was performed, which determined a reduction in pain. In the first case, there was also an improvement in function. There were no side effects in the two patients after the injections.