Effects of biophysical stimulation in patients undergoing arthroscopic reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament: prospective, randomized and double blind study

Pre-clinical studies have shown that treatment by pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) can limit the catabolic effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines on articular cartilage and favour the anabolic activity of the chondrocytes. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is usually performed by arthroscopic procedure that, even if minimally invasive, may elicit an inflammatory joint reaction detrimental to articular cartilage. In this study the effect of I-ONE PEMFs treatment in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction was investigated. The study end-points were (1) evaluation of patients’ functional recovery by International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Form; (2) use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), necessary to control joint pain and inflammation. The study design was prospective, randomized and double blind. Sixty-nine patients were included in the study at baseline. Follow-up visits were scheduled at 30, 60 and 180 days, followed by 2-year follow-up interview. Patients were evaluated by IKDC Form and were asked to report on the use of NSAIDs. Patients were randomized to active or placebo treatments; active device generated a magnetic field of 1.5 mT at 75 Hz. Patients were instructed to use the stimulator (I-ONE) for 4 h per day for 60 days. All patients underwent ACL reconstruction with use of quadruple hamstrings semitendinosus and gracilis technique. At baseline there were no differences in the IKDC scores between the two groups. At follow-up visits the SF-36 Health Survey score showed a statistically significant faster recovery in the group of patients treated with I-ONE stimulator (P < 0.05). NSAIDs use was less frequent among active patients than controls (P < 0.05). Joint swelling resolution and return to normal range of motion occurred faster in the active treated group (P < 0.05) too. The 2-year follow-up did not shown statistically significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore for longitudinal analysis the generalized linear mixed effects model was applied to calculate the group × time interaction coefficient; this interaction showed a significant difference (P < 0.0001) between the active and placebo groups for all investigated variables: SF-36 Health Survey, IKDC Subjective Knee Evaluation and VAS. Twenty-nine patients (15 in the active group; 14 in the placebo group) underwent both ACL reconstruction and meniscectomy; when they were analysed separately the differences in SF-36 Health Survey scores between the two groups were larger then what observed in the whole study group (P < 0.05). The results of this study show that patient’s functional recovery occurs earlier in the active group. No side effects were observed and the treatment was well tolerated. The use of I-ONE should always be considered after ACL reconstruction, particularly in professional athletes, to shorten the recovery time, to limit joint inflammatory reaction and its catabolic effects on articular cartilage and ultimately for joint preservation

The Italian Consensus Conference on FAI Syndrome in Athletes (Cotignola Agreement)

Background. Femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) is an important topic in literature because of its strong relationship with sport populations. Methods. Sixty-five experts participated in "this Consensus Conference (CC)". They discussed, voted and approved a consensus document on the FAI syndrome in athletes. Results. The CC experts approved document provided suggestions concerning: 1) Epidemiology of FAI; 2) Clinical evaluation; 3) Radiological evaluation; 4) Conserva-tive treatment; 5) Surgical criteria; 6) Surgical techniques; 7) Post-surgical rehabilita-tion; 8) Outcome evaluation; 9) FAI-associated clinical frameworks. Conclusions. The CC offers a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treat-ment of FAI syndrome in athletes taking into account all the different steps needed to approach this pathology in sport populations

Can Clinical and Surgical Parameters Be Combined to Predict How Long It Will Take a Tibia Fracture to Heal? A Prospective Multicentre Observational Study: The FRACTING Study

Healing of tibia fractures occurs over a wide time range of months, with a number of risk factors contributing to prolonged healing. In this prospective, multicentre, observational study, we investigated the capability of FRACTING (tibia FRACTure prediction healING days) score, calculated soon after tibia fracture treatment, to predict healing time. Methods: The study included 363 patients. Information on patient health, fracture morphology, and surgical treatment adopted were combined to calculate the FRACTING score. Fractures were considered healed when the patient was able to fully weight-bear without pain. Results: 319 fractures (88%) healed within 12 months from treatment. Forty-four fractures healed after 12 months or underwent a second surgery. FRACTING score positively correlated with days to healing: r = 0.63 (p < 0.0001). Average score value was 7.3 ± 2.5; ROC analysis showed strong reliability of the score in separating patients healing before versus after 6 months: AUC = 0.823. Conclusions: This study shows that the FRACTING score can be employed both to predict months needed for fracture healing and to identify immediately after treatment patients at risk of prolonged healing. In patients with high score values, new pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments to enhance osteogenesis could be tested selectively, which may finally result in reduced disability time and health cost savings

Third-degree lesions of the external compartment of the ankle: Results of conservative treatment

Ankle sprains are one of the most common lesions of the musculoskeletal system. In some sports they are the most common reason that athletes seek medical care. For this reason many publications are dedicated to this subject, and specifically to the treatment of lesions of the external compartment, which account for about 85% of all ligamentous lesions of the ankle (O'Donoghue, 1958). The treatment of these lesions is very controversial. Some orthopedists propose early surgical treatment to restore normal healing with minimal functional lengthening. Others favor conservative treatment, while still others recommend functional treatment with the objective of accelerating the recovery of proprioceptive reflexes affected by the ligamentous lesion as well as stimulating healing by movement. The authors' diagnostic and therapeutic approach to lesions of the external compartment of the ankle is explained with special reference to lesions in athletes, who must be guaranteed perfect joint stability in order to tolerate the intense stress of sports activity without danger of relapse

Les systèmes neuroinspirés appliqués à la vision artificielle: pédagogie et interdisciplinarité

oralSession: la filière dans un contexte de développement durable et responsabilité sociétaleNational audienceLe traitement neuroinspiré de l’information et le domaine des neurobiosystèmes sont deux pans de la recherche à fort potentiel de développement. Appliquées au domaine de la vision artificielle, elles visent au développement de nouvelles applications comme la conception d’implants rétiniens et/ou de caméras « intelligentes ». Des actions sont menées dans le domaine de la médiation scientifique et de la formation, au travers d’un stand à l’Xpérium et le développement d’une nouvelle unité d’enseignement (UE) appelée « Neuroengineering », intégrée au parcours de formation du Master « Biotechnologies » proposé à l’université de Lille. Le stand présenté à l’Xpérium montre à des jeunes lycéens et étudiants que l’utilisation d’architectures neuroinspirées dans un système de vision artificielle doit conduire à une forte amélioration des performances associée à une réduction de la consommation énergétique. Il s’agit d’une expérience pédagogique innovante auprès des jeunes générations montrant les enjeux des activités de recherche en construction dans les laboratoires. Pour l’UE Neuroengineering, les sujets abordés en séance permettent d’amener les étudiants vers la compréhension des Trends and challenges in neuroengineering (1), notamment en posant la question du développement de neuroprothèses électroniques intelligentes permettant une communication bidirectionnelle entre des neurones vivants et artificiels

Les systèmes neuroinspirés appliqués à la vision artificielle: pédagogie et interdisciplinarité

National audienceLe traitement neuroinspiré de l’information et le domaine des neurobiosystèmes sont deux pans de la recherche à fort potentiel de développement. Appliquées au domaine de la vision artificielle, elles visent au développement de nouvelles applications comme la conception d’implants rétiniens et/ou de caméras « intelligentes ». Des actions sont menées dans le domaine de la médiation scientifique et de la formation, au travers d’un stand à l’Xpérium et le développement d’une nouvelle unité d’enseignement (UE) appelée « Neuroengineering », intégrée au parcours de formation du Master « Biotechnologies » proposé à l’université de Lille. Le stand présenté à l’Xpérium montre à des jeunes lycéens et étudiants que l’utilisation d’architectures neuroinspirées dans un système de vision artificielle doit conduire à une forte amélioration des performances associée à une réduction de la consommation énergétique. Il s’agit d’une expérience pédagogique innovante auprès des jeunes générations montrant les enjeux des activités de recherche en construction dans les laboratoires. Pour l’UE Neuroengineering, les sujets abordés en séance permettent d’amener les étudiants vers la compréhension des Trends and challenges in neuroengineering (1), notamment en posant la question du développement de neuroprothèses électroniques intelligentes permettant une communication bidirectionnelle entre des neurones vivants et artificiels

Ontwikkeling van een instrument voor de evaluatie van de ondersteuningsbehoeften in handicapsituaties: Luik 1. Samenvatting

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Développement d’un instrument pour l’évaluation des besoins de soutien dans les situations de handicap : Volet 1. Résumé

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De ontwikkeling van een instrument voor de evaluatie van de ondersteuningsbehoeften in handicapsituaties: Luik 1

status: publishe