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BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a very common bone disorder and accounts for 1.4 million vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) per year,mostly in post-menopausal women. AIM: The aim of this study was to develop a risk scoring system to identify and gauge the risk of osteoporotic VCFs in post-menopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study on 477 post-menopausal women consecutively visited at our institution.We studied 15 different clinical variables, i.e. age, body mass index (BMI), weight, L1-L4 lumbar T-Score, L1-L4 lumbar ZScore, L1-L4 lumbar bone mineral density (BMD), femoral neck T-Score, femoral neck ZScore, femoral neck BMD, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, 25-OH-vitamin D, total alkaline phosphatase, bone alkaline phosphatase, and L4 vertebral volume. Study population was split in a derivation and a validation cohort. A logistic regression model was used to develop a predictive score of osteoporotic VCFs in the derivation cohort, finally the performance of the score was tested in the validation cohort. RESULTS: Age, L1-L4 lumbar T-Score, femoral neck T-Score, L4 vertebral volume, and smoking habit were found to be predictors of VCFs.To each variable a score from 0 to +12 was assigned to the magnitude of regression coefficient. A score ≤ 22 identified VCFs with a sensitivity of 87%/89% and a specificity of 87%/90% in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that a simple score derived from clinical history and routine diagnostic workout can be usefully employed to gauge the risk of fragility VCFs in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most patients affected by spinal tuberculosis can be successfully treated conservatively with chemotherapy, external bracing and prolonged rest. Nevertheless, kyphotic deformity, spinal instability and neurological deficit remain a common complication associated with conservative approach. Aim: To illustrate different indications and treatment modalities for tuberculous spondylodiscitis, focusing on the role of surgery as an adjuvant of effective chemotherapy in the management of selected patients. Materials and Methods: Various early and late surgical procedures are recommended to treat spinal tuberculosis. The Authors analyzed surgical indications, approaches, complications and outcomes comparing their experience with available Literature. Results: Conservative management is preferable in patients without vertebral instability and deformity; in presence of abscesses, invasive radiological techniques in combination with abscess drainage and chemotherapy are recommended. In patients with vertebral collapse, kyphotic deformity or abscess formation, vertebral instability or neurological deficits, anterior radical debridement, anterior strut grafting and anterior instrumentation is an optimal standardized procedure. In patients with involvement of more than two vertebral levels or lumbosacral junction and in those whose sagittal alignment is markedly deformed with segmental kyphosis, and in patients who have difficulty in undergoing anterior instrumentation, posterior instrumentation is recommended in combination with anterior radical debridement and anterior strut grafting in one or two staged procedures. Conclusions: Since surgery for spinal tuberculosis is demanding, it should be performed only after taking into account the risks and benefits in operable patients. Various surgical procedures are recommended to treat spinal tuberculosis but the common goals are to eradicate the infection and to prevent or to treat neurologic deficits or spinal deformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO) represents approximately 2-7% of all cases of osteomyelitis. The approach to the treatment of PVO may be conservative, which includes antibiotic therapy and orthopaedic treatment, or surgical. Aim: To overview conservative and surigical approaches to PVO. Methods: A literature review was performed using the Pubmed database to identify studies published in the last 20 years, addressing the treatment of PVO. Results: Empirical antibiotic treatment of PVO, while waiting for the results of cultures or in culture- negative cases, should include broad spectrum agents in association with agents active on Staphylococcus (S.) aureus. Based on local epidemiological data, antibiotics active on methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) should be included. Once an organism has been identified, antibiotics should be initially administered intravenously but the optimal duration of antimicrobial therapy is unclear. Studies have reported that the incidence of treatment failure was higher when i.v. therapy was administered for less than 4 weeks. Rifampin is widely used in the combination therapy of PVO, but no controlled trials are available to define weather this approach is beneficial. Many PVO need a surgical treatment and can represent a real challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. Anterior and posterior cervical, thoracic, lumbar approaches and the relatives surgical strategies are reported in this review. Moreover, recently the mininvasive posterior stabilization have been proposed as a efficient alternative to open surgery in elderly with severe comorbidities. Possible advantages and limitations of this technique are also reported. Conclusions: Further research is needed in order to define the optimal duration of antibiotic therapy, and the benefits and limitations of open or mini-invasive surgical techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review of the publications concerning cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) suggests that it has not been achieved a clear consensus about the treatment of this pathology. In this paper an algorithm of surveillance, conceived as an assistant tool to decide the best indications of treatment is presented. The algorithm permits a clear separation of the symptomatic patients on the base of the presence or the absence of neurologic damage resulting at the evoked potentials examination. The negativity of the evoked potentials, that means neurologic integrity, excludes any type of surgical treatment. In case of proved neurologic damage, the algorithm permits a further differentiation in subgroups according to the degree of clinical disability. If evoked potentials are positive, a surgical decompression should be always performed in patients affected by a severe clinical disability. The group of patients affected by a mild degree of clinical disability but with positive evoked potentials represents the most challenging for the spinal surgeons. Actually, several studies support either surgical and non surgical treatment for these patients. Although the Authors think that a surgical decompression has to be always performed in case of proved neurologic damage, only further randomized studies based on accurate algorithms could elucidate the outcome of the CSM and could permit to choose the best treatment according to the degree of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Osteolytic metastases around the acetabulum are frequent in tumour patients, and may cause intense and drug-resistant pain of the hip. These lesions also cause structural weakening of the pelvis, limping, and poor quality of life. Percutaneous acetabuloplasty is a mini-invasive procedure for the management of metastatic lesions due to carcinoma of the acetabulum performed in patients who cannot tolerate major surgery, or in patients towards whom radiotherapy had already proved ineffective. Methods We report a retrospective study in 25 such patients (30 acetabuli) who were evaluated before and after percutaneous acetabuloplasty, with regard to pain, mobility of the hip joint, use of analgesics, by means of evaluation forms: Visual Analog Scale, Harris Hip Score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index of Osteoarthritis (WOMAC), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). The results obtained were analysed using the χ2 Test and Fisher's exact test. Significance was sent at P < 0.05. Results Marked clinical improvement was observed in all patients during the first six post-operative months, with gradual a worsening thereafter from deterioration of their general condition. Complete pain relief was achieved in 15 of our 25 (59%) of patients, and pain reduction was achieved in the remaining 10 (41%) patients. The mean duration of pain relief was 7.3 months. Pain recurred in three patients (12%) between 2 weeks to 3 months. No major complications occurred. There was transient local pain in most cases, and 2 cases of venous injection of cement without clinical consequences. Conclusion Percutaneous acetabuloplasty is effective in improving the quality of life of patients with osteolytic bone tumours, even though the improvement is observed during the first 6 months only. It can be an effective aid to chemo- and radiotherapy in the management of acetabular metastases.

One case of cervical myelopathy associated to ossification of transverse atlantal ligament (OTAL) and C1 posterior arch hypoplasia in a Caucasian adult female is reported. A 53-year-old female affected by cervical myelopathy was treated with C1 laminectomy and posterior arthrodesis. CT scan demonstrated that the distance between ossification of the ligament and anterior cortex of the posterior arch of atlas was 6,2mm leading to consistent space reduction for spinal cord at this level. Patient underwent spinal cord decompression and fixation with C1 poliaxial screws in lateral masses and two bilateral crossing C2 laminar screws with an improvement of neurological functions at 4-years follow-up. The association between OTAL and C1 hypoplasia was reported in very few cases. The treatment with C1 laminectomy without fusion is reported in medical literature with good clinical outcome. Our patient obtained a neurological improvement at midterm follow-up with spinal cord decompression and fusion., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered a polygenic disease controlled by the expression of genetic factors. Genes encoding for cytokines have been associated with susceptibility for joint OA and interleukin (IL)-6 gene is also supposed to be involved in the cartilage degradation process. In this case-control study, we evaluated for the first time whether the risk of hip OA might be influenced by the -174 IL-6 gene polymorphism., Methods: The distribution of IL-6 genotypes was evaluated in 75 patients affected by hip OA and in 107 age- and sex-matched controls., Results: The distribution of IL-6 genotypes in (1) patients with hip OA: 33 GG, 30 GC, 12 CC and (2) control subjects: 34 GG, 40 GC, 33 CC. The frequency of the CC genotype was significantly higher in control patients (P=0.02). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the presence of the CC genotype is independently associated with a decreased risk of OA (odds ratio 0.4 [95% confidence interval 0.1-0.9], P=0.04)., Conclusions: Primary OA of the hip has an important genetic component and variations of genes encoding for inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, may play an important role in the series of events responsible for the pathophysiology of OA.

Objective: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a well-known complication in joint replacements, but its occurrence and clinical effect on cervical artificial discs has not yet been studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of HO in cervical disc replacement, to identify any associated risk factors for HO, and to examine the relationship of HO with clinical outcomes., Methods: The patient data for this observational study were obtained from the original Bryan Disc Study by the European Consortium. Occurrence of HO was defined by the McAfee classification on the cervical lateral x-rays at 12 months after surgery. Secondary outcome measurements included Odom's criteria and the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey., Results: Sixteen (17.8%) of the 90 studied patients experienced HO, and 6 (6.7%) of these patients experienced Grade 3 and 4 HO. Ten patients' (11%) artificial discs were shown to have movement of less than 2 degrees on flexion and extension cervical x-ray at 12 months, with 4 of these patients having HO of Grade 3 or 4. Male sex (chi2 = 4.1; P = 0.0407) and older patients (P = 0.023; odds ratio = 1.10; 95% confidence interval = 1.01-1.19) were associated with development of HO., Conclusion: There is a strong association of the occurrence of HO with subsequent loss of movement of the implanted cervical artificial disc. We have found that sex and age are two possible risk factors in the development of HO after cervical disc replacement.

Gene therapy has developed during the last two decades as a promising strategy for orthopaedics applications, since several different gene transfer techniques proved to be effective, both in vitro and in vivo, for the induction of bone formation. Successful results have been achieved with gene-based bone healing strategies in several preclinical studies, using different animal models. New genes and new viral and non-viral vector constructs have been developed to reduce the risks and safety issues, widening the field of possible applications and improving the potential therapeutical effects. We review the latest gene transfer technologies employed for in vivo bone formation, focusing on the recently identified network of growth factors and genes involved in the modulation of the osteogenetic process and on the variety of vectors utilized for gene delivery.

Study Design: Prospective, concurrently enrolled, multicenter trials of the Bryan Cervical Disc Prosthesis (Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Memphis, TN) were conducted for the treatment of patients with single-level and two-level (bi-level) degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine., Objectives: The studies were designed to determine whether new functional intervertebral cervical disc prosthesis can provide relief from objective neurologic symptoms and signs, improve the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living, decrease pain, and maintain stability and segmental motion., Summary of Background Data: The concept of accelerated degeneration of adjacent disc levels as a consequence of increased stress caused by interbody fusion of the cervical spine has been widely postulated. Therefore, reconstruction of a failed intervertebral disc with functional disc prosthesis should offer the same benefits as fusion while simultaneously providing motion and thereby protecting the adjacent level discs from the abnormal stresses associated with fusion., Methods: Patients with symptomatic cervical radiculopathy and/or myelopathy underwent implantation with the Bryan prosthesis after a standard anterior cervical discectomy. At scheduled follow-up periods, the effectiveness of the device was characterized by evaluating each patient's pain, neurologic function, and radiographically measured range of motion at the implanted level., Results: Clinical success for both studies exceeded the study acceptance criteria of 85%. At 1-year follow-up, the flexion-extension range of motion per level: Discectomy and implantation of the device alleviates neurologic symptoms and signs similar to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Radiographic evidence supports maintenance of motion. The procedure is safe and the patients recover quickly. At least 5 years of follow-up will be needed to assess the long-term functionality of the prosthesis and protective influence on adjacent levels.

Objective: The concept of accelerated degeneration of adjacent disc levels as a consequence of increased stress caused by interbody fusion of the cervical spine has been widely postulated. Therefore, reconstruction of a failed intervertebral disc with a functional disc prosthesis should offer the same benefits as fusion while simultaneously providing motion and thereby protecting the adjacent level discs from the abnormal stresses associated with fusion. This study was designed to determine whether a new, functional intervertebral cervical disc prosthesis can provide relief from objective neurological symptoms and signs, improve the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living, decrease pain, and provide stability and normal range of motion., Methods: We conducted a prospective, concurrently enrolled, multicenter trial of the Bryan Cervical Disc Prosthesis (Spinal Dynamics Corp., Mercer Island, WA) for the treatment of patients with single-level degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. Patients with symptomatic cervical radiculopathy and/or myelopathy underwent implantation with the Bryan prosthesis after a standard anterior cervical discectomy. At scheduled follow-up periods, the effectiveness of the device was characterized by evaluating each patient's pain, neurological function, and range of motion at the implanted level., Results: Analysis included data regarding 60 patients at 6 months with 30 of those patients at 1 year. Clinical success at 6 months and 1 year after implantation was 86 and 90%, respectively, exceeding the study's acceptance criteria of 85%. These results compare favorably with the short-term clinical outcomes associated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion reported in the literature. At 1 year, there was no measurable subsidence of the devices (based on a measurement detection threshold of 2 mm). Evidence of anterior and/or posterior device migration was detected in one patient and suspected in a second patient. There was no evidence of spondylotic bridging at the implanted disc space. The measured range of motion in flexion-extension, as determined by an independent radiologist, ranged from 1 to 21 degrees (mean range of motion, 9 +/- 5 degrees). No devices have been explanted or surgically revised., Conclusion: Discectomy and implantation of the device alleviates neurological symptoms and signs similar to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Radiographic evidence supports normal range of motion. The procedure is safe and the patients recover quickly. Restrictive postoperative management is not necessary. However, only after long-term follow-up of at least 5 years will it become clear whether the device remains functional, thus confirming these early favorable results. In addition, the influence on adjacent motion segments can be assessed after at least 5 years of follow-up.

The aim of this study was to obtain reliable data about the current aetiology (i.e. the frequency of the individual pathogens) of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) while surveying the diagnostic and therapeutic behaviour of Italian chest physicians, compared with existing guidelines, and to test the usefulness of the current severity "criteria" or score as a predictor of disease outcome and guide for appropriate hospitalization. A prospective multicentre observational trial was carried out between October 1994 and February 1996 by the Italian Association of Hospital Pneumologists (AIPO) study group on respiratory infections. A total of 613 consecutive patients suffering from CAP were enrolled in 25 centres throughout Italy. Clinical, radiological and microbiological data were collected and patients were followed-up until complete resolution or death. Aetiological tests were not carried out in 204 patients. In the remaining 409 cases, the aetiology was defined by serological and quantitative microbiological tests in 184 (44.9%) patients. A total of 194 strains of pathogen were detected. The most frequently detected micro-organism was Streptococcus pneumoniae (18.5% of pathogen strains) but, unlike in other series of patients, high percentages of intracellular pathogens (32.5%, all with serological confirmation, mostly due to Chlamydia pneumoniae (13.4%) and of Gram-negative enterobacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.5%) were also found. Antibiotic treatment differed from that recommended in American Thoracic Society guidelines, with a greater use of third-generation cephalosporins. Overall, a higher rate of hospitalization and a lower death rate than in other comparable studies was observed.

A series of 15 patients affected with chordoma localized in the clivus and the vertebral column treated surgically by a single surgeon were studied. Localizations in the proximal segments of the spine (clivus and cervical spine) become clinically evident earlier. Diagnosis and consequent treatment are carried out during a stage of progression that is less advanced than occurs in chordomas with lumbar and sacral localization. Based on a study of the material examined it may be observed that factors influencing prognosis are related to the phase of progression of the disease (stage of the tumor), site, whether or not previous surgery has been performed. The type of surgical resection varies in relation to the site of the lesion, at times allowing for wide margin resections. The progressive course of the tumor is positively influenced by early diagnosis, currently favored by progress made in the field of neuroradiology, surgical resection performed according to oncological criteria, and conventional high-dosage radiation therapy, with fractioned doses.

The purpose of this study was to analyze age-related changes in the coracoacromial arch and correlate these degenerative changes with rotator cuff tears. We obtained 80 shoulders from 40 cadavers. The mean age at death was 58.4 years. We performed a gross examination of the rotator cuff and the acromion and histological examination of the coracoacromial ligament. The statistical significance of any difference for each group considered was determined by Student's t-test. The rotator cuff was normal in 66 specimens; there was an articular-side partial tear in 4 cases, a bursal-side partial tear in 6 cases, and a full-thickness tear in 4 cases. Age was correlated with increasing incidence and severity of cuff tears. We noted age-related degenerative changes in the coracoacromial ligament, degeneration of the acromial bone-ligament junction, and acromial spur formation. Anterior acromial spur was not related to the morphology of the acromion. We observed an increased incidence of bursal-side and complete cuff tears when the acromion was curved or beaked. Degenerative changes in the undersurface of the acromion were also present when the rotator cuff was normal. Bursal-side and complete cuff tears were associated with severe degenerative changes in the acromion in 100% of cases. Articular-side cuff tears were not related either to acromial morphology or degenerative changes in the coracoacromial arch. The association between cuff tears and acromial spur was more evident in the presence of a type III acromion. Our results would suggest that the incidence and severity of rotator cuff tears are correlated with aging and with the morphology of the acromion. Rotator cuff tears that involve the bursal side are often associated with changes in the coracoacromial ligament and the undersurface of the acromion. However, degenerative changes in the coracoacromial arch are always related to aging, also in the presence of a normal rotator cuff. Articular-side partial tears do not cause damage to the undersurface of the acromion.

The treatment of a high risk case of an advanced thyroid cancer is reported. The patient had a thyroid cancer with metastatic lesions of the frontal bone, left temporal bone, left sacroiliac joint, lytic destruction of C6 and lytic lesion of C7. A pre-operative immobilization of the cervical spine was performed by a halo cast set on a corset of gypsum. After this, the patient underwent a thyroidectomy and, at the same time, a metallic plate was applied to immobilize C5-C7. A month after he underwent reoperative surgery to stabilize definitively the cervical spine. Subsequently he was treated by TCT and 131I subdivided in several cycles. The latest total body scan demonstrated a complete regression of secondary lesions.

A case of IgD "nonsecretory" multiple myeloma in a 46-yr-old woman is reported. Despite the presence of disseminated osteolytic lesions, both serum protein electrophoresis and serum and urine immunoelectrophoresis were normal. In addition, bone scintigraphic study was normal. Bone marrow biopsy and aspirate obtained from the left femur lytic lesion showed only myelomatous proplasmocytes; when examined by immunofluorescence with monospecifc antisera, the cytoplasm showed only the presence of delta and kappa chains, suggesting that the neoplastic plasma cells might belong to a single clone. Lymphocyte studies indicated the presence of a normal amount of both B and T cells.

175 sera from children and 101 sera from adults both with respiratory illness of unknown origin were collected between September 1980 and February 1983 and studied by using the indirect immunofluorescence test for Legionnaires' disease. By using the criteria of the Center for Disease Control for a positive (fourfold increase in titer over 128 during convalescence) or presumptive (single titer greater than or equal to 256) serological test, 8 samples from adults (7.92%) and 11 samples from children (6.27%) gave a positive result. These results suggest that the frequency of Legionnaires' disease is similar in both adults and children.

A clinical epidemiological survey of Legionella pneumophila infections occurring in Italy between 1 December 1985 and 31 May 1986 was carried out to evaluate the incidence of sporadic, epidemic and nosocomial L. pneumophila pneumonia. A total of 355 cases of pneumonia were studied of which 11.5% were due to Gram positive bacteria, 11% were due to Gram negative bacteria, 7.9% were due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, 4.5% were due to L. pneumophila and 8.5% were due to sundry aetiological agents. The remainder (45.6%) could not be diagnosed accurately. In addition, the anti L. pneumophila antibody titres were assessed. The results are discussed in terms of the occurrence of the disease in Italy and regarding the importance of considering the possibility of legionellosic aetiology when diagnosing pneumonia.

In a controlled multicenter trial 291 patients have been treated with cefotetan. They suffered from acute or chronic exacerbated bronchopulmonary disorders. In 110 patients it was possible to identify the etiological agent: enterobacteria (62), non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli (10), Haemophilus influenzae (8), Branhamella catarrhalis (1), Streptococcus pneumoniae (19), Staphylococcus aureus (12), Streptococcus pyogenes (4). In the exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (203), cefotetan was generally administered at the dose of 1 g/12 h i.m., whereas it was administered at the dose of 2 g/12 h i.v. in acute infection. The mean duration of therapy was 8.8 days. Positive clinical results were obtained in 251 patients (86.2%) with eradication of the pathogen initially isolated in 90.5% of cases. Cefotetan showed good local and general tolerance. The results obtained confirm those of studies concerning limited numbers of patients and show the efficacy of cefotetan both in acute and chronic pathologies, also in patients with serious involvement of their general conditions (concomitant pathologies, high mean age).

The MURCS association was first suggested by Duncan in 1979 as a distinctive nonrandom association of congenital anomalies involving the Mullerian duct, the kidneys and the cervicothoracic spine. Two personal cases, highly resembling Duncan's description, are reported. In our opinion, they seem to support somehow the hypothesis that MURCS association should be considered as an autonomous pathological entity. The great phenotypical variability and the still unknown etiopathogenetic mechanism are particularly stressed.

The early ultrastructural changes which arise in nerve fibres following axonotmesis are described. The study was conducted experimentally by means of silk ligature of the tibial nerve in rabbits. The findings on electron microscopy of samples of nerve taken at two and twenty four hours respectively after operation are reported.