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Biomedical subjects

F Postacchini

Publications and source records attributed to F Postacchini.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Rupture of the short head tendon of the biceps brachii.

Subcutaneous rupture of the short head tendon of the biceps brachii is a very rare lesion, with only five cases previously reported. The case of a 67-year-old farmer whose tendon ruptured following a mild muscle effort is presented. The degenerative changes revealed by histological examination of the injured tendon were so severe as to lead to the conclusion that its tensile strength must have fallen considerably prior to rupture. The most characteristic clinical signs of this rupture are a sizeable bulge in the middle third of the injured arm, and a hollow in the site normally occupied by the short head of the biceps. Suture of the ruptured tendon to that of the coracobrachialis led to full functional recovery.

Aged↗
PubMed1976

Subcutaneous rupture of the Achilles tendon.

A series of 27 ruptures of the tendo Achillis are reported. Samples of tendon tissue, taken both at the site of rupture and at a distance from it, were histologically examined. Four different surgical procedures were performed. All patients showed marked degenerative changes of the tendon tissue. No definite relationship was found between the surgical procedure employed and functional results obtained. These were rated as excellent in 12 cases, good in 11 and fair in four. Only minor complications attending the operation occurred. We emphasize the superiority of open repair over conservative treatment.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed1976

A new approach to the pathology, clinical features and treatment of stress tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon.

On the basis of clinical, anatomical, surgical, histological and pathological investigations, the authors propose a classification of the tendinopathies of the Achilles tendon associated with stress. These are particularly common in the field of sport. Three syndromes are identified: a) pure peritendinitis; b) peritendinitis associated with tendinosis; c) pure tendinosis. The symptoms and possible complications are described and the problem of treatment is discussed. In pure peritendinitis tenolysis is recommended, but in peritendinitis associated with tendinosis it should be combined with extensive scarification of the tendon in order to promote revitalisation.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed1975

Isolated absence of human carpal bones.

An unusual instance of congenital isolated absence of carpal bones, in a 38-year-old woman, characterized by total lack of the scaphoid, lunate, and pyramidal and a massive fusion of the distal carpal row is reported. This condition is thought to have been the result of an embryonic error exclusively involving the portion of the autopodic blastema from which the carpus originates.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Biochemical variations in the matrix of human tendons in relation to age and pathological conditions.

With increasing age, the human tendon shows an increase of collagen and a diminution of mucopolysaccharides and glycoproteins. Similar findings have recently been reported by other authors in the tendons of mammals. Fragments of tendon affected by tendinosis, obtained dlring suture and tenoplasty operations, were also examined. Marked diminution of collagen and an increase of acid mucopolysaccharides and structural glycoproteins were found as compared with the control tendon.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intracellular collagen fibres in regenerating tendon.

Intracytoplasmic collagen fibres contained in elongated membrane-bound structures were observed in fibroblasts of regenerating tendon in the later stages of the repair process. The observations appear to support the hypothesis that collagen fibres of the intercellular matrix may be phagocytosed by the cells and degraded in the intracellular environment. Phagocytosis of extracellular collagen fibres probably represents an additional mechanism of collagen resorption during the later stages of remodelling of the regenerating tendon.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anterior shoulder dislocation in adolescents.

Of 780 patients treated for primary anterior shoulder dislocations, 33 (4.2%) were aged 12 to 17 years at the time of the dislocation. We clinically evaluated 28 of these patients a mean of 7.1 years after the initial dislocation. All patients were radiographed, and 15 underwent magnetic resonance imaging or computed arthrotomography of the shoulder. The primary dislocation had been traumatic in 21 patients (75%) and atraumatic in 7 patients (25%). Recurrent dislocations had occurred in 24 cases (86%), the number of recurrences ranging from 1 to 30. In the group with traumatic primary dislocations, the rate of recurrences was 92% and the mean number of redislocations was 7 in the patients who had been 14 to 17 years of age at the time of the initial injury, whereas the corresponding figures were 33% and 0.3 in the patients who had been 13 years of age or less at the time of the initial injury. Imaging studies showed a Bankart lesion in 80% of cases; each of these patients had had a traumatic primary dislocation and was 14 to 17 years old at the time of injury. During the follow-up period, operative stabilizing procedures had been performed in 7 cases. At follow-up evaluations, all nonoperated patients showed clinical evidence of anterior or multidirectional instability of the involved shoulder; of the operated patients, each of those with traumatic primary dislocations reported no recurrences and had a satisfactory result, whereas both of the patients with atraumatic primary dislocations continued to have subluxation and/or dislocations of the operated shoulder. In the 14- to 17-year-old adolescents with traumatic primary dislocations in whom imaging studies show Bankart lesions, there is an indication for prophylactic stabilizing surgery at the time of the initial injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An ultrastructural study of recurrent disc herniation: a preliminary report.

One early and two late recurrent herniations located at the same interspace as the original prolapse were studied by light and electron microscopy. In the early recurrent herniation, most chondrocytes appeared to be actively engaged in protein synthesis, and the intercellular matrix contained densely packed collagen fibers, numerous matrix vesicles, and abundant electron-dense amorphous material. In late recurrent herniations, chondrocytes had scant endoplasmic reticulum and extensive cytoplasmic filaments, and the intercellular matrix showed intermediate features between fibrocartilage and fibrous connective tissue. On the basis of these morphologic characteristics, it seems reasonable to assume that the newly formed disc tissue arose mainly from remnants of the original herniation in the early recurrent prolapse and from the annulus fibrous and the granulation tissue invading the disc space after discectomy in the late recurrent herniations.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The role of TC and MRI in the identification, characterization and staging of tumors of the spinal vertebrae].

The early detection and characterization of primary and metastatic spinal bone tumors permits early and appropriate surgical or nonsurgical intervention directed toward preserving life and function. The sensitivity and multiplanar capabilities inherent in Magnetic Resonance imaging make it the imaging procedure of choice in detecting and characterizing a spinal bone lesion. Spiral Computed Tomography with multiplanar reconstruction may be a useful supplementary procedure, especially when detailed bony anatomy, particular of the posterior elements, is required for surgical intervention. Plain films play little if any role in modern imaging. The may be used as screening procedures in situations in which MR and CT are not available.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Classification and pathomorphology of lumbar stenosis.

A classification system based on pathologic anatomy distinguishing between three types of lumbar stenosis is reported: stenosis of the spinal canal, isolated stenosis of the nerve root canal, and stenosis of the intervertebral foramen. Each type of stenosis is classified as primary, secondary, combined or mixed. Pathomorphological pictures which may represent the vertebral bodies, the neural arch and the discoligamentous structures in the various forms of stenosis, among which degenerative spondylolisthesis, are examined. Finally, the authors describe the pathologic modifications occurring in the nervous structures as the possible consequence of a lumbar stenosis.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Injury of the axillary nerve subsequent to recurrence of shoulder dislocation. Clinical and electromyographic study.

Injuries of the axillary nerve subsequent to recurrence of glenohumeral dislocation have received only minimal attention. It is the purpose of this study to define the prevalence and the progression in time of injury of the axillary nerve in patients with recurrence of anterior shoulder dislocation. For two years we observed a total of 185 patients who had had primary shoulder dislocation. Excluded from the study were patients who had fractures associated with metabolic disorders that favored neurologic deficit. During the period of study, 98 patients contacted us again after recurrence of the dislocation: there were 89 patients aged over 60 years and 9 aged below 60 years. All of the patients were evaluated clinically and submitted to EMG in order to verify the condition of the axillary nerve. Four patients (4%) had neuroapraxia of the axillary nerve. One of these also had neuroapraxia of the radial nerve. Of the four patients, one was a male aged 34 years; the others were all aged over 60 years. In all of the cases, function of the axillary nerve completely recovered after a mean period of 4 months (3-5.3 months) after recurrence. Injury of the axillary nerve can occur at the time of the first recurrence of the injury. However, prevalence is significantly lower than that observed after primary dislocation. The occurrence of this injury should be taken into consideration, particularly in elderly patients, in order to avoid erroneous clinical diagnosis and massive rupture of the cuff subsequent to recurrence of the dislocation.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Outpatient lumbar myelography. Analysis of complications after myelography comparing outpatients with inpatients.

Over a 2-year period, 92 patients were submitted as outpatients to lumbar myelography using lopamidol, a new nonionic water-soluble contrast medium. The incidence and severity of adverse reactions associated with myelography in these cases were compared with those in 116 patients who underwent lopamidol myelography as inpatients. The hospitalized patients received 10 ml, and the outpatients 8 or 10 ml of contrast medium (300 mg l/ml). The severity of complications was graded as very mild, mild, moderate, or severe. The complication rate was 37% in the hospitalized patients and 40% in the outpatients. Adverse reactions, mostly in the form of headache, were very mild in approximately two thirds of cases in each group, and moderate or severe in 15% of the inpatients and 24% of the outpatients presenting complications. The incidence of moderate or severe reactions was lower in the outpatients receiving 8 ml of contrast medium compared with those given 10 ml. lopamidol lumbar myelography performed on an outpatient basis is a safe procedure. The outpatient regimen considerably reduces the cost of myelography and indirectly increases the availability of beds in orthopaedic and neurologic units.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrastructural and immunochemical evidence of actin in the tendon cells.

Evidence obtained by means of ultrastructural and immunological methods, reveals actin filaments within the cytoplasm of tenocytes. Actin filaments suggest that the tendon cells have contractile activity, and may play an important part in the physiology of muscle tendon fiber interactions.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Morphometry of the lumbar vertebrae. An anatomic study in two caucasoid ethnic groups.

A morphometric study of the lumbar vertebrae of 121 skeletons, 63 Italian and 58 Indian, revealed that the mean dimensions of the spinal canal, the lateral recesses, and the vertebral body were significantly greater in the Italian than in the Indian skeletons. The lowest normal limits of the midsagittal diameters of the spinal canal were 12.6 mm in the Italian skeletons and 11.5 mm in the Indian series. The midsagittal diameters of the canal measured, at one or more levels, 10.1-10.8 mm in 5% of the Italian skeletons and 9.0-10.5 mm in 10% of the Indian skeletons. In most vertebrae with midsagittal dimensions of the canal less than 11.5 mm, the width of the recesses was at or below the lower limits of normal. These observations cast doubt on the current view that a midsagittal diameter of the vertebral canal of less than 12.0 mm is pathologic and suggest that the diagnosis of developmental stenosis can not be based only on the dimensions of the spinal canal. Lateral recess stenosis may occur in a normally sized spinal canal but is more likely to occur in developmentally narrow canals.

Adult↗