Arthroscopic Implantation of a Cell-Free Bilayer Scaffold for the Treatment of Knee Chondral Lesions: A 2-Year Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to assess the safety and clinical efficacy of a cell-free bilayer scaffold (MaioRegen Chondro+ by Fin-Ceramica) in patients affected by chondral knee lesions of different origin and localization. DESIGN: Thirty-one patients with focal chondral lesions of the knee were arthroscopically treated with MaioRegen Chondro+. All patients were prospectively evaluated for a minimum of 2 years using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Questionnaire and the Tegner Activity Scale. Cartilage repair was assessed based on the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) 2.0 score at 12 months. Follow-up at 36 months was available for 25 out of 31 patients. RESULTS: From baseline to 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up, IKDC score significantly improved by 19.5 ± 7.27 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.9-22.2, P < 0.001), 30.8 ± 7.63 (95% CI: 28.0-33.6, P < 0.001), and 36.2 ± 8.00 points (95% CI: 33.3-39.2, P < 0.001), respectively. Tegner scores documented a substantial clinical improvement as early as 12 months after surgery (change of -0.6 ± 0.62; 95% CI: -0.8 to -0.4, P < 0.001), reaching the preinjury values. There was a statistically significant increase in the MOCART scores (P < 0.001). Comparable results were observed regardless of preintervention demographic characteristics, lesion site or etiology, or the number of treated sites. Notably, the significant clinical benefit was maintained in a subset of patients who reached 3-year follow-up. No adverse events were reported in the entire analyzed population. CONCLUSION: MaioRegen Chondro+ is a safe and effective device for the treatment of knee chondral lesions, enabling a significant clinical improvement for at least 2 years.

Cortical activity, kinematics and trunk muscles activity response to pelvis movements during unstable sitting.

BACKGROUND: Balance control is a leading component of human motor activities and its impairment is associated with an increased risk of falling, lower back pain due to impaired motor control mechanism. Prolonged sitting position at workplace is one of the risk factors of reduced postural control and lower back pain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate theta and alpha waves cortical activity, trunk muscles activity and kinematics in static sitting, dynamic sitting on different platforms: simple wobble board (WB) and wobble board on bearing surface (WBB). METHODS: The kinematics of body segments, electromyography of five trunk muscles, electroencephalography of 32 scalp electrodes were measured during balance tasks in sitting position for 17 subjects with continuous seated position at workplace. RESULTS: Cortical power on WBB1 increase in fronto - central (p< 0.05) region while on WBB2 increase in centro - parietal region (p< 0.05). WBB2 increase more muscles compared with WB2. The amplitude of movement of ASIS, Th10 can be seen lower on WBB compared with WB (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that WBB can increase personalized sitting and improve trunk motor control during hours of prolonged sitting.

A pilot study on the influence of exercising on unstable training machine on balance control and trunk muscles activity.

BACKGROUND: The main position of the working population is becoming sitting. Immobile prolonged sedentary time may cause negative effects including reduced intervertebral discs nutrition. Main ways of mitigating them are regular position changes and exercising. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate influence of the short term training on unstable training machine on balance control and trunk muscles activity in patients with lower back pain. METHODS: Participants (n=16) experiencing lower back pain were trained on an unstable sculling machine "Rehabili". Their balance tested by (Biodex Balance System) and rectus abdominis, externus oblique, transverse abdominis, multifidus and erector spine muscles activity (measured by surface electromyography) while sitting and standing with usual and aligned body postures both before and after six weeks of training (three 15 minutes sessions per week) were compared in between. RESULTS: Balance control improved after the training program. Besides, more symmetrical activation of both sides rectus and transversus abdominis muscles, as well as increased transversus abdominis muscle activation of 19% (p< 0.05), were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Six weeks short sessions training on unstable training machine improved balance control and increased trunk muscles activity especially in aligned body posture when standing or sitting on unstable surface.