Enhanced Osteogenic Response to an Osteochondral Scaffold Modified with BMP-2 or Strontium-Enriched Amorphous Calcium Phosphate in a Co-Culture In Vitro Model.

: A trilayered collagen/collagen-magnesium-hydroxyapatite (Col/Col-Mg-HA) scaffold is used in clinical practice to treat osteochondral lesions, but the regeneration of the subchondral bone is still not satisfactory. : The aim of this study was to test, in vitro, the osteoinductivity induced by the addition of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) or amorphous calcium phosphate granules with strontium ions (Sr-ACP), in order to improve the clinical regeneration of subchondral bone, still incomplete. : Normal human osteoblasts (NHOsts) were seeded on the scaffolds and grown for 14 days in the presence of human osteoclasts and conditioned medium of human endothelial cells.

What happens to the elbow 15 years after a radial head prosthesis? A clinical and imaging long-term follow-up study.

Background: Radial head arthroplasty (RHA) has increasingly become the standard treatment for non-reconstructable radial head fractures, especially in young active patients where long-lasting function restoration is of paramount importance. However, long-term evidence of the results over time is still scarce. The purpose of this study was to document the long-term outcomes of RHA for acute radial head fractures.

Effect of corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid injections on knee osteoarthritis trajectory.

Purpose: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent orthopaedic pathologies. Intra-articular injections represent a common option to manage this condition. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare the effectiveness of corticosteroids (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in affecting the knee OA trajectory over time.

Ultrasound quantification of knee meniscal extrusion: the potential of weight-bearing and dynamic evaluations. A systematic review.

Purpose: Meniscal extrusion (ME) can have detrimental effects. The aim of this study was to analyze the evidence about the reliability, potential of standing and dynamic evaluations, and influencing factors identified by using ultrasound (US) to evaluate knee ME.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed in February 2024 on PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library databases to select all articles, dealing with the US evaluation of ME.

Cartilage lesions are not the main factor influencing pain and functional impairment in early knee osteoarthritis : a multivariate analysis on intra- and extra-articular factors affecting symptoms in over 200 knees.

Aims: To investigate the correlation between symptoms, in terms of pain and functional scores, and the extent of cartilage damage as well as other intra- and extra-articular factors in patients suffering from early knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: The subjects were selected from the Osteoarthritis Initiative database according to the following inclusion criteria: Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade 0-1-2, MRI at baseline, and availability of cartilage-denuded subchondral bone values. For each patient the following data were analyzed: demographic data, KL grade, percentage of subchondral bone denuded from cartilage, patellar quadriceps tendinitis, effusion, anserine bursa tenderness, meniscal extrusion, Hoffa body synovitis, bone marrow lesions (BML), visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) total score, and WOMAC pain subscale.

Depressive symptoms influence progression to total knee arthroplasty in patients with early knee osteoarthritis: Evidence from the Osteoarthritis Initiative database.

Purpose: Several factors can influence progression to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Among these, psychological aspects can play a relevant role. The aim of this study was to quantify the influence of depressive symptoms on the progression to TKA in a large population of patients affected by knee OA.

Orthobiologics: Injectable Treatments for Knee Osteoarthritis.

Autologous therapies with intra-articular orthobiologic approaches have been introduced to address knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Among these, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and cell-based injectable therapies obtained from bone marrow or adipose tissue are gaining a significant interest in the clinical practice. PRP is currently showing the highest support, in terms of overall number of data, superiority in comparative trials, and some support from scientific societies.

Bone bruise assessment in knees with ACL lesions: semi-quantitative scores outperform quantitative evaluation.

Purpose: Bone bruise is a common consequence of trauma. Its presence, size, and shape correlate with articular damage and symptoms evolution. Purpose of this study was to identify, among the most used quantitative and semi-quantitative evaluation strategies, the most reliable method to evaluate bone bruise in knees with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Adipose tissue-derived versus bone marrow-derived cell concentrates for the injective treatment of knee osteoarthritis: protocol of a prospective randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Intra-articular injections of mesenchymal stromal cells concentrates showed promising results in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Among these, bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) has been widely adopted in clinical practice. More recently, microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) has been proposed as a more suitable solution.

Intrinsic amyloid deposition following proteostasis impairment in osteoarthritic chondrocytes: Insights and therapeutic approaches.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common age-related and degenerative joint disease. Proteostasis and protein quality control (autophagy, unfolded protein response, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system) are pivotal for cellular homeostasis and their impairment leads to protein misfolding and amyloid deposition in aged tissues. We here investigated amyloid deposition in OA.

Shear Wave Tensiometry in the Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Loading: A Cross-Sectional Study on Conservatively Treated Tendons After Rupture.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantify differences in the shear wave speed (SWS) between a conservatively treated Achilles tendon (AT) after rupture and the unaffected contralateral tendon.

Methods: Twenty-nine participants who received conservative treatment following Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) were enrolled. Measurements were taken during a single follow-up visit, which occurred between 1 and 7 years after the rupture.

Corticosteroids versus platelet-rich plasma injections for knee osteoarthritis: Where is there more evidence? A systematic review of 60 years of literature.

Background: Corticosteroid (CS) injections are often recommended by international societies for knee osteoarthritis (OA) treatment, but platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has shown higher safety and efficacy in comparative analyses. Despite this, PRP use is often not endorsed by scientific societies due to perceived insufficient body of evidence. This study aims to quantify clinical data documenting CS and PRP intra-articular injections for knee OA.

Young male players exhibit higher eccentric hamstring muscle fatigue than females and older males after a basketball match participation.

Objectives: Investigating hamstring eccentric strength before and after a basketball match.

Design: Cohort observational study.

Setting: Playing facilities of local basketball teams on official championship matches.

Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Patients with Knee Cartilage Lesions Treated with a Cell-Free Scaffold Implantation.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to establish the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds for the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores in patients affected by knee chondral and osteochondral lesions treated with cell-free scaffold implantation.DesignFor the MCID definition, 186 patients who underwent an osteochondral scaffold implantation were included. Patients were evaluated through the IKDC subjective and VAS pain scores at baseline, 12 and 24 months.

Conservative treatments of bone marrow lesions.

Purpose: Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) of the knee are a common magnetic resonance imaging finding and are present in a wide range of pathologies, including traumatic contusions and fractures, following cartilage surgery alterations, osteoarthritis, transient BMLs syndromes, subchondral insufficiency fractures of the knee and spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. Regardless of their aetiology, clinical management may prove challenging. This review focuses on the conservative treatment approaches to manage patients affected by knee BML, thanks to the contribution of field experts.

One-Stage Versus Two-Stage Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Bilateral total knee arthroplasty (B-TKA) represents an increasingly used option to address advanced bilateral knee osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to quantify and compare one-stage and two-stage B-TKA results in terms of clinical outcomes, perioperative parameters, complications, revisions, and mortality rates.

Methods: The literature search was conducted using three databases (PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science) in February 2024 according to the guidelines for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis.

Lateral femoral condyle cartilage lesions in chronic posterior lateral meniscus root tears: A report of seven cases.

This study aims to investigate the association between chronic lateral meniscus posterior root tears (LMPRTs) and chondral or osteochondral lesions of the lateral femoral condyle (LFC), particularly in cases involving prior anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Given the challenges in diagnosing LMPRTs and the biomechanical significance of the lateral meniscus, this research highlights the potential long-term impact of untreated root tears. A prospective analysis was conducted on seven patients with chronic LMPRTs and suspected LFC lesions, identified through clinical symptoms, history of ACL injuries and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.

Corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma, and cell-based therapies for knee osteoarthritis - literature trends are shifting in the injectable treatments' evidence: a systematic review and expert opinion.

Introduction: The aim of this systematic review was to quantify the data available on corticosteroids (CS), hyaluronic acid, (HA), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and cell-based therapies for knee osteoarthritis (OA) treatment.

Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science according to the PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria: clinical studies of any level of evidence, written in English, evaluating the intra-articular use of CS, HA, PRP, or cell-based therapies for knee OA treatment.

Injective Therapies for Managing Sacroiliac Joint Pain in Spondyloarthropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: The most effective treatment approach for sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain in spondyloarthropathy (SpA) patients remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the safety and effectiveness of different injective therapies for SIJ pain in SpA patients. : A comprehensive literature search was conducted up to January 2024.

The influence of cell and platelet number on clinical outcomes provided by a one-step scaffold transplantation with bone marrow concentrate for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate if the numbers of cells and platelets in the bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) added to a hyaluronic acid membrane influence the clinical outcome up to long-term follow-up in the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs).

Methods: A total of 102 patients with symptomatic OLTs underwent this one-step treatment. Eighty-five patients (53 men, 32 women, age 32.

Calcaneo-stop for paediatric idiopathic flexible flatfoot: High functional results and return to sport in 644 feet at mid-term follow-up.

Purpose: Idiopathic flexible flatfoot (IFF) is a frequent condition in children. Patients refractory to conservative treatments may benefit from surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes and sport activity levels in a large cohort of paediatric patients treated with calcaneo-stop (CS) for the symptomatic IFF.

Symptoms predict total knee arthroplasty more than osteoarthritis severity: A multivariable analysis of more than 7500 knees.

Purpose: Multiple clinical factors may concur to determine the clinical trajectory leading towards total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients affected by knee osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to identify the main factors influencing progression to TKA in a large population of knee OA patients.

Methods: A total of 7552 knees were selected from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) multicentre database.

ICRS-FIFA-Aspetar consensus on the management of knee cartilage injuries in football players: part 1 - appropriateness of surgery in different clinical scenarios using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method.

Knee cartilage lesions are frequent in football players, but evidence for surgical treatment is lacking. The aim of this International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society, Fédération Internationale de Football Association, and Aspetar (ICRS-FIFA-Aspetar) consensus was to develop specific expert-based, patient-specific practical recommendations on the appropriateness of non-surgical or surgical treatments for symptomatic knee cartilage lesions in competitive football players. The RAND/UCLA appropriateness method was used, and 17 voting experts provided recommendations on the appropriateness of surgical treatment in 96 different clinical scenarios defined on 6 variables: cartilage injury onset, lesion location, defect size, bone involvement, player symptom level and preference towards higher priority of a quick return to play or long-term results.