Investigating and Practicing Orthopedics at the Intersection of Sex and Gender: Understanding the Physiological Basis, Pathology, and Treatment Response of Orthopedic Conditions by Adopting a Gender Lens: A Narrative Overview.

In the biomedical field, the differentiation between sex and gender is crucial for enhancing the understanding of human health and personalizing medical treatments, particularly within the domain of orthopedics. This distinction, often overlooked or misunderstood, is vital for dissecting and treating musculoskeletal conditions effectively. This review delves into the sex- and gender-specific physiology of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons, highlighting how hormonal differences impact the musculoskeletal system's structure and function, and exploring the physiopathology of orthopedic conditions from an epidemiological, molecular, and clinical perspective, shedding light on the discrepancies in disease manifestation across sexes. Examples such as the higher rates of deformities (adolescent idiopathic and adult degenerative scoliosis and hallux valgus) in females and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women illustrate the critical role of sex and gender in orthopedic health. Additionally, the review addresses the morbidity-mortality paradox, where women, despite appearing less healthy on frailty indexes, show lower mortality rates, highlighting the complex interplay between biological and social determinants of health. Injuries and chronic orthopedic conditions such osteoarthritis exhibit gender- and sex-specific prevalence and progression patterns, necessitating a nuanced approach to treatment that considers these differences to optimize outcomes. Moreover, the review underscores the importance of recognizing the unique needs of sexual minority and gender-diverse individuals in orthopedic care, emphasizing the impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy on aspects like bone health and perioperative risks. To foster advancements in sex- and gender-specific orthopedics, we advocate for the strategic disaggregation of data by sex and gender and the inclusion of "Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity" (SOGI) data in research and clinical practice. Such measures can enrich clinical insights, ensure tailored patient care, and promote inclusivity within orthopedic treatments, ultimately enhancing the precision and effectiveness of care for diverse patient populations. Integrating sex and gender considerations into orthopedic research and practice is paramount for addressing the complex and varied needs of patients. By embracing this comprehensive approach, orthopedic medicine can move towards more personalized, effective, and inclusive treatment strategies, thereby improving patient outcomes and advancing the field.

New Trends and Advances in MRI and PET Hybrid Imaging in Diagnostics.

Imaging holds an irreplaceable role in routine clinical practice [...].

New Frontiers in Oncological Imaging.

The more that advances in the medical field are capable of targeted treatments, the more imaging should be tailored to patients [...].

Flatfoot over the centuries: the background of current conservative and operative treatments.

PURPOSE: Although flatfoot is a widespread human condition, historical medical texts and ancient illustrations on this deformity are extremely rare. Nowadays, doubts regarding its management remain unsolved. This historical review aims to identify the presence of pes planus since the prehistoric era and examine the treatments proposed over the centuries up to the present. METHOD: For this propose, we performed an extensive electronic search of the relevant literature, complemented by a manual search of additional sources from archaeological to artistic, literary, historical, and scientific accounts, describing flatfoot and its treatment in different eras. RESULTS: Flatfoot accompanied the evolutionary timeline of human species: from Lucy Australopithecus to Homo Sapiens. It was described among various diseases suffered by Tutankhamun (1343-1324 B.C.), while the first anatomical description dates to Emperor Trajan (53-117 A.D.) and the medical studies of Galen (129-201 A.D.). It was also represented in the anatomical drawings of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) and Girolamo Fabrici d'Acquapendente (1533-1619). Historically, the conservative treatment by insoles was the only one proposed until the nineteenth century. Since then, the most popular surgical procedures performed for correction have been osteotomies, arthrodesis, arthrorisis, and tendon lengthening and transfer. CONCLUSION: During the centuries, conservative therapeutic strategies have not radically changed in their substance, while operative ones have become the protagonists during the twentieth century up to the present. Nevertheless, after more than 2000 years of history, there is no consensus regarding the best indication for the flatfoot and if it really needs to be treated.

History of the management of talar fractures: from the fall of king Darius to Garibaldi's bullet and from the earliest to current operative strategies.

PURPOSE: This historical review aims to highlight the important roles of the talus in antiquity and to summarise the multiple attempts of managing talar fractures throughout history. METHOD: Archaeological, religious, artistic, literary, historical and scientific accounts were searched for the descriptions of talus fractures in different eras and their treatments to provide a thorough analysis of the evolution of trauma care up to the present. RESULTS: This review shows how the talus has always had an important role in several societies: it was used as a die or considered to have a divinatory function in Mesopotamian civilisations, among Greeks and Romans, in Mongolia and in pre-Columbian Americas. Famous talus fractures are recorded in Herodotus' Histories and in the Acts of the Apostles. We report the earliest injuries described and the first operative managements between 1600 and 1800, including the one that saved Garibaldi's life in 1862, until the modern osteosynthesis by the first screws and nails and the current fixation by plating. CONCLUSION: The blooming of orthopaedic surgery at the end of nineteenth century and the high volume of traumas managed in the World Wars brought a better understanding of fracture patterns and their operative treatment. By the work of Hawkins and his classification, the introduction of the CT scan, a better knowledge of injury modalities and bone vascularisation, these challenging injuries finally land in the contemporary era without mysteries. The subsequently developed surgical procedures, although not guaranteeing success, greatly reduce the risk of necrosis and complication rate, improving patient outcomes.

The history of resection prosthesis.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this historical review is to highlight the progression and development of prosthetic reconstruction with a focus on the modular distal femur with hinged total knee arthroplasty. METHOD: Scientific literature was searched for descriptions of endoprosthetic reconstruction of the extremities to provide a thorough overview of the subject, focusing the research on the evolution of limb salvage of the distal femur. RESULTS: After the first works of Gluck and Giordano, with ivory and metal and the pioneer shoulder prosthesis by Pean in the late 1890s, a great advancement was brought by reconstructions performed for injured soldiers of the Great War. By the 1940s, replacement of all the main joints had been attempted, and documented. DISCUSSION: Walldius in the 1950s developed a fully constrained hinge knee, offering for the first time a consistent and replicable method of substituting the joint. In 1953, Shiers' prosthesis allowed for good flexion and extension. Stanmore and GUEPAR group prosthesis in the 1960s were the first to have a different right and left side model. The rotating hinge was developed in 1978 by Walker, with the innovative concept of six degrees of freedom. Between 1979 and 1982, Kotz developed the modular segmental replacement that, added to a fixed hinge knee, permitted the revolutionary creation of the modern distal femur replacement. CONCLUSION: The study of the materials and mechanical solutions that was brought to the modern distal femur resection prosthesis is a good example of a virtuous multidisciplinary teamwork between orthopaedic surgeons, anatomists, and biomechanical engineers.

New concepts in the surgical treatment of actual and impending pathological fractures in metastatic disease.

INTRODUCTION: Long bone metastases are a disease of high social importance. The goals of surgical treatment are to relieve pain, maintain or restore joint function, and prevent or treat pathological fractures. "Oligometastases" is a disease with a limited number (3-5) of metastatic lesions in the same body district, where an aggressive treatment can be carried out with "curative" intent. This study aimed to evaluate patients with bone metastases surgically treated to determine how surgical treatment can influence prognosis and quality of life, comparing solitary metastasis, oligometastases, and multiple metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of 130 patients with long bone metastases surgically treated between October 2015 and August 2019: 40 patients had solitary metastasis; 38 had less than three metastases (oligometastases), and 52 had multiple metastases. Surgery was resection and reconstruction with a cemented prosthesis (95) or nailing (35). RESULTS: Overall survival was significantly better in patients with solitary metastasis or oligometastases than in those with multiple metastases (p <0.0001). Patients treated with resection and prosthesis had significantly better survival than those treated with nailing (p <0.0001). Implant complications requiring surgical revision occurred in 20 patients treated with prostheses, while no complications occurred in patients treated with nailing. DISCUSSION: Survival of cancer patients has improved in the last two decades, leading to an increase of diagnosed metastases. Patients with oligometastases have a survival similar to those with a single metastasis. Optimal implants survival curves should stay above the curves of patients survival. CONCLUSIONS: Since there are no differences in survival, patients with oligometastases should be treated as patients with a solitary lesion, with more aggressive surgery (wide resection and reconstruction with prosthesis). Intramedullary nailing is still indicated in metaphyseal or diaphyseal metastases in patients with advanced disease or poor prognosis when the life expectancy does not overcome the expected survival of the nail, avoiding the need for further surgery.

Outcomes and Complications of Pelvic Chondrosarcomas Treated Using Navigation Guidance and Multidisciplinary Approach: Is the Tumor Volume a Prognostic Factor?

(1) Background: Pelvic Chondrosarcomas (CS) have a poor prognosis. The grade is the most important survival predictor; other factors are periacetabular location and Dedifferentiated CS subtype. The aim of the study is to investigate a series of CS of the pelvis, to analyze the prognostic factors that affect outcomes and to demonstrate how the use of intraoperative navigation can reduce the complications without worse outcomes. (2) Methods: Retrospective study on 35 patients (21 M, 14 F), median age at surgery 54 years (IQR 41−65), with pelvic CS, treated with hemipelvectomy under navigation guidance. (3) Results: 30 high-grade CS and 5 low-grade CS; mean follow-up 51.4 months. There was a positive linear correlation between the tumor volume and the presence of local recurrence at follow-up. The mean survival time of patients with larger chondrosarcoma volume was lower, but not significantly so. Lower MSTS score was associated with significantly lower survival time (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: in this series overall survival, LR and distant metastasis were comparable with recent literature, while complication rate was lower compared to similar series without the use of navigation. There was a correlation between tumor volume and local recurrence rate but not with the presence of metastasis at follow up.

A historical review of calcaneal fractures: from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and Don Juan injuries to the current plate osteosynthesis.

PURPOSE: Calcaneal fractures are one of the most challenging injuries to treat and one of the most divisive. The purpose of this historical review is to highlight the evidence of calcaneal fracture and its treatment through history. METHODS: Archaeological, religious, artistic, literary and historical accounts were searched for descriptions of calcaneal fracture to give a thorough overview of the subject. The scientific literature was searched to highlight the evolution of treatment techniques. RESULTS: For over 2500 years, the only available option was conservative treatment due to the high risk of infection and limb loss in a world without antibiotics, plastic surgery techniques and adequate osteosynthesis devices. At the beginning of the twentieth century, treatment was still rather crude, consisting of closed reduction by impaction by a Cotton's mallet, immobilisation of the foot into presses and strict bed rest in a plaster cast for five weeks. Only in the case of untreatable pain, triple arthrodesis could be employed. Regardless, the results were dismal. The debate on the superiority of open reduction and primary subtalar arthrodesis over open and closed reduction spans the entire history of medicine. CONCLUSION: The long path of history has brought great improvement in the treatment of calcaneus fracture, but the debate about the best treatment is far from being over. There is a lack of good quality randomised control trials conducted according to an agreed set of outcome scores despite some excellent efforts. Therefore, despite the attempts made over the years and new, more precise prognostic scores, the outcomes of each technique in use today are as unique as the individuals who suffer from a calcaneal fracture.

Are Patellofemoral Ligaments and Retinacula Distinct Structures of the Knee Joint? An Anatomic, Histological and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

There is disagreement regarding the description of the patellofemoral ligaments (PFLs), considered by some authors as capsular thickening and by others as independent ligaments. It was hypothesised that the PFLs and retinacula are structures with different histological features. The aim of this study was to describe the stabilising structures of the patella in detail and to determine if the PFLs and retinacula are different and separable structures from a macroscopic, microscopic and imaging viewpoint. An anatomical study was performed on eight knees from five cadavers (mean age, 56.2 years; range, 35-63 years), and a histological study was conducted on specimens from nine patients having a mean age of 65 years (range 35-84 years) who had undergone surgical knee procedures. The imaging study was based on 100 MRIs (96 patients). The mean age was 46 years (range 16-88), and the study analysed the capsular-ligamentous structures. In the medial compartment, the layers and structures were as follows: superficial layer, medial retinaculum; intermediate layer, Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL), Posterior Oblique Ligament (POL) and Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL); deep layer, deep part of the MCL and joint capsule. In the lateral compartment, the layers and structures were the following: superficial layer, lateral retinaculum; intermediate layer, Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) and Lateral Patellofemoral Ligament (LPFL); deep layer, joint capsule. All of the knees examined presented a clearly distinguishable MPFL and LPFL separable from the capsular layer. Histological study: there was a higher density of nerve fibres in retinacula compared to ligaments (p = 0.0034) and a higher content of elastic fibres in retinacula (p < 0.0005). In imaging, there was no difference between medial and lateral retinaculum thickness (p > 0.05). In conclusion, both the lateral and medial compartment can be described using the three-layer scheme. PFLs and retinacula are separate structures both macroscopically and according to imaging analysis. The retinacula respond to their specific function with a higher nerve fibre content and higher number of elastic fibres compared to the ligaments.

Hamstring Strain Injury (HSI) Prevention in Professional and Semi-Professional Football Teams: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Hamstring Strain Injuries (HSIs) are the most common type of lesion in professional footballers and the leading cause of absence days from sports. However, recent studies have shown that high-level football teams apparently do not apply any HSI prevention protocol. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of preventive strategies and protocols in reducing the incidence of hamstring muscle injuries in professional and semi-professional football teams. A literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, ISI/Web of Science and Scopus databases was conducted with the keywords "hamstring* and (injury* or strain) and prevent* and (soccer or football)". Quality and bias assessment was completed through the Kennelly modified scale. The Injury Incidence Rate (IIR) and the Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) were assessed in the statistical analysis. In the meta-analysis, data were extracted, pooled and analysed with "Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 3.3.070" software. In total, 8 of the 1017 original search studies met the inclusion criteria of this review. The total exposure of the studies was 170,221.8 h, while the number of HSIs recorded was 165 in the intervention groups and 224 in the control groups. The average score of the quality assessment was 23.6/34. The meta-analysis of six of the eight included studies provided strong evidence that interventions are effective in reducing hamstring injuries. The IRR of the effect size was 0.443, with p-value = 0.001. The studies analysed applied different preventive strategies: the Nordic hamstring exercise, the FIFA 11+ programme and exercises for core stability or balance training. All these interventions proved to have a successful effect on prevention of hamstring injuries.

Double fractures of the femur: a review of 16 patients.

BACKGROUND: Double ipsilateral femoral fractures account for 1-9% of femoral fractures. There is no clear advantage between single or double implant osteosynthesis. We present a series of patients with double ipsilateral femoral fractures, to address the challenges in treatment, namely the implants for osteosynthesis and complications of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 16 patients (7 men, 9 women; mean age, 51 years) treated from January 2015 to December 2018. Motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of injury. Types of fractures were pertrochanteric and shaft (6), pertrochanteric and distal (2), double shaft (3), neck and shaft (2), neck and distal (1), shaft and distal (1), and triple fracture including a pertrochanteric, shaft and distal (1). In five patients, two different implants were used (plate and screws, cannulated hip screws, femoral nail), whereas in 11 patients a long femoral nail was used. RESULTS: Fourteen patients experienced union at a mean of 3 months (2-6 months). Two patients experienced nonunion: both had plate and screws osteosynthesis. One patient died 15 days after admission from polytrauma and another patient experienced central venous catheter thrombosis and pneumonia. Surgical complications (2 patients) included a thigh skin necrosis, and external fixator pin tract infection/infected non-union. Weight-bearing was delayed in all patients; full weight-bearing was allowed in 11 patients at 4 months postoperatively, and in four patients at 5 months. CONCLUSION: Due to the rarity and the difficulty of standardization of double ipsilateral femoral fractures, there is variable information on the optimal osteosynthesis of the fractures and the outcome of the patients. It seems that closed reduction and long hip nailing is the treatment of choice, with few complications.

Functional and Radiographic Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Intramedullary Nail Device (MIIND) for Moderate to Severe Hallux Valgus.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at assessing clinical and radiographic outcomes of the Minimally Invasive Intramedullary Nail Device (MIIND) to correct moderate to severe hallux valgus (HV) and the long-term persistence of its effects. METHODS: This case series study involved 100 patients, 84 women and 16 men (mean age, 59 years), who underwent the MIIND procedure with a mean follow-up of 97 months. Assessment was performed preoperatively, postoperatively, at 6 and 12 months, and at last follow-up. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, visual analog scale (VAS), and patient satisfaction. Intermetatarsal angle (IMA), metatarsophalangeal hallux valgus angle (HVA), distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA), and tibial sesamoid position were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: The mean AOFAS score improved from 57.9 to 90.5 points, VAS scale was 1.5 ± 2.0, and patients' satisfaction was 8.7 ± 1.4. The mean correction of the HVA and IMA showed a significant correction; however, the effect of time was not statistically significant on DMAA. Sex (P = .047), severity (P = .050), associated procedures (P = .000), and preoperative angle (P = .000) showed significant association with HVA correction and its persistence over time. Age was not statistically significant. Complications were 9 cases of superficial wound infection and 6 recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: The MIIND technique proved a viable procedure to correct moderate to severe HV with a low rate of complications and recurrence, producing significant correction of most radiographic parameters assessed and their persistence, even at long term. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series study.

Functional outcome and complications after treatment of comminuted tibial fractures or deformities using Ilizarov bone transport: a single-center study at 15- to 30-year follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate long-term outcomes and complications of a single-center and single-surgeon patient series of isolated and comminuted tibial fractures with bone defects or tibial deformities treated by Ilizarov bone transport. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from a consecutive series of patients with isolated comminuted tibial fractures (Fracture Group: FG) or deformities (Deformity Group: DG) treated between 1987 and 2002 were included. For clinical assessment, the Lower Extremities Functional Scale was used; complications were recorded according to the Dindo classification and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Overall, 72 patients were enrolled with a mean follow-up of 21.6 years (range 15-30) a mean LEFS of 36.4 (range 0-100). In the FG, the mean LEFS was 21.3 (range 0-98.75), and the external fixation time (EFT) lasted 7.6 months (range 3-18 months) months. In the DG, the mean LEFS was 76.7 (range 55-100), and the EFT was 10.6 months (range 3-20 months). Between the two groups, the clinical evaluation was significantly different, while the EFT was not (p = 0.14). In the FG, the worst results were obtained in the cases of open fractures with a higher percentage of complications and the need for further surgical procedures. The cumulative rate of complications was 55.6% during the first 36 months and 66.7% at the minimum follow-up of 180 months. CONCLUSIONS: Ilizarov bone transport, even at a long follow-up period, proved to be an effective technique for both definitive treatment of comminuted tibial fractures with bone defects or tibial deformities. Although our functional outcomes were lower in patients with exposed fractures, they were in line with the literature, but not influenced by the EFT when properly managed. Most complications occurred during the first 3 years; however, they could also arise much later, even until almost 30 years.

Metal Ion Release, Clinical and Radiological Outcomes in Large Diameter Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasty at Long-Term Follow-Up.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) with metal-on-metal (MoM) bearings have shown problems of biocompatibility linked to metal ion release at the local level causing an adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD) and at a systemic level. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiological outcomes, and metal ion concentrations in the blood and urine of patients who underwent THA with the LIMA Met-Met hip system. Patients with ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) bearings were included as a control group. In this study, 68 patients were enrolled: 34 with MoM THAs and 34 with CoC THAs. Patients were evaluated clinically (Harris Hip Score, SF-36) and radiologically at a median of 7.4 years after surgery. Whole blood and urinary cobalt and chromium levels were also assessed. Both types of implants were comparable in terms of clinical and functional results. Ion levels were significantly higher in the MoM group compared with CoC group 7 years after surgery. No correlations were found between metal ion levels and patient demographics, functional and radiological outcomes, and prosthesis features. Patient monitoring is thus advised to establish if prosthesis revision is necessary, especially in the case of MoM THA.

Conservative Versus Surgical Management of Elbow Medial Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have been published regarding the treatment of medial ulnar collateral ligament (MUCL) injuries for professional overhead athletes. However, there is a paucity of data regarding non-professional athletes. The aim of this systematic review was to compare the rate of outcome scores and complications of conservative versus operative treatments both in non-professional athletes and in non-sport-related trauma patients with MUCL lesions. METHODS: A systematic review of the published literature was performed by applying the PRISMA guidelines. A search was conducted using three databases: Medline, Science Direct, and Web of Science. The keywords used were "ulnar collateral ligament injury," "elbow," "surgery," and "conservative treatment". Patients were divided into three groups: patients who underwent conservative treatment (C-group), surgical treatment (S-group), and surgery after a failed conservative treatment (C&S-group). Clinical outcomes were analyzed: Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Conway scale, Carson score, and Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic score (KJOC). RESULTS: A total of 15 studies were included, evaluating 513 patients. Although good and excellent outcomes were found for most patients during daily and/or sport activities, independently of the type of treatment, the C-group had better results. Excellent results were found in 98.8% of the C-group, in 88.1% of the S-group, and in 87.7% of the C&S-group. The complication rate in the C-group was statistically higher compared to the S and C&S groups (P < 0.001). However, its complication rate was higher with lower patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence to establish statistically significant differences in the effects of conservative versus surgical treatments on the functional outcomes of patients with MUCL lesions. However, a period of rehabilitation therapy and the functional request of the single injured subject are useful to discern which patients genuinely require MUCL surgical repair.

Muscle stem cells: what's new in orthopedics?

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: Adult stem cells were studied as a source of potentially useful development for tissue engineering and repair techniques. The aim of this review is to clarify the actual and possible uses of muscle stem cells in orthopedics. METHODS: A selection of studies was made to obtain a homogeneous and up to date overview on the muscle stem cells applications. RESULTS: In recent years muscle was studied as a good source of adult stem cells that can differentiate into different cell lineages. Muscle stem cells are a heterogeneous population of cells, which demonstrated in vitro a great potential for the regeneration and repair of muscle, bone and cartilage tissue. Among muscle stem cells, satellite stem cells are the most known progenitor cells: they can differentiate in osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes and myocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Although muscle stem cells are a promising field of research, more pre-clinical studies in animal models are still needed to determine the safety and efficiency of the transplant procedures in humans.

Management and treatment of femoral neck stress fractures in recreational runners: a report of four cases and review of the literature.

Femoral neck stress fractures (FNSFs) in healthy young subjects are uncommon and most prevalent among long-distance runners and military recruits. Women seem to be at higher risk of developing stress fractures because of possible eating disorders followed by amenorrhea and osteoporosis. This case report describes four young and middle-aged, active female recreational runners who developed stress fractures of the femoral neck. In three of them, with a clinical history of persistent pain in the groin region, which worsened during training, early diagnosis by MRI was considered essential in detecting the fractures. The patients were clinically, metabolically and radiographically evaluated; they were then treated and followed-up at our institution. Only one case was treated conservatively, while the others underwent surgical internal fixation using a screw-plate (DHS®). All of them returned to sport physical activity after a recovery period. Regarding the challenging management of FNSFs, our report highlights the importance of groin pain, especially in athletic females, an early diagnosis by MRI, and a proper classification of these injuries for a correct choice of treatment in order to prevent further dislocation and avoid avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Freiberg's infraction: A modified closing wedge osteotomy for an undiagnosed case.

INTRODUCTION: Freiberg's infraction is an osteonecrosis affecting the metatarsal head whose pathogenesis is not fully understood, although stress overloading by multiple microtraumas remains the most widely accepted cause. Operative treatment, by different techniques, is necessary when conservative treatment fails. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 31-year old woman presented with left foot severe pain, especially at the level of the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) of the second ray, underestimated upon initial evaluation. She had a history of repetitive microtraumas, a long second metatarsal bone and altered forefoot kinematics. Clinical and radiographic findings were compatible with Freiberg's infraction. A dorsal closing-wedge osteotomy with single screw stabilization was performed. At last follow-up, the patient was completely asymptomatic with a normal MTPJ range of motion. DISCUSSION: Our patient had a history of repetitive microtraumas combined with a long second metatarsal bone and altered forefoot kinematics. Initially, because of the low frequency of the disease and lack of knowledge about it, even among general orthopaedic surgeons, the infraction was not diagnosed. However, the radiological characteristics of the lesion, combined with intra-operative observation and histological exams associated with the medical history and clinical exam of the patient, revealed a disease compatible with Freiberg's syndrome. A closing-wedge osteotomy, performed by using a straight burr, appeared to be the most correct treatment. CONCLUSION: This case shows how Freiberg's infraction can pass unrecognized or underestimated and how dorsal closing-wedge osteotomy can be an efficient surgical treatment.

The treatment of acute Rockwood type III acromio-clavicular joint dislocations by two different surgical techniques.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: the treatment of acute type III acromio-clavicular Rockwood dislocations is still a matter of discussion in orthopaedic surgery. The purpose of this study, retrospective and comparative, is to evaluate the long-term results of two different surgical techniques of temporary stabilization using K-wires with and without tension band wiring. METHODS: one hundred patients, treated from January 2007 and November 2010, were subdivided into two groups according to the surgical method used. They were clinically and radiographically assessed, and the results were compared with those present in the literature. RESULTS: the patients were clinically and radiologically evaluated with a mean follow-up of 44.7 months (range 25-60 months). According to the Constant Score, the positive results were 87.4% in group A and 90.2% in group B, without significant statistical difference (p>0.05). However, there were numerous complications, especially metal-work mobilization. CONCLUSIONS: the results that we have obtained, in part disappointing on the short-term, but positive overall and in line with the literature at long-term follow-up, do not clarify which of the two techniques is superior.