Francesca Vannini

M.D.,Ph.D.
Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli · Complex Structure: 2nd Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Clinic

Topics (11) View all

Publications (49) View all

  • Article: The SERI Distal Metatarsal Osteotomy and Scarf Osteotomy Provide Similar Correction of Hallux Valgus.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Ideal surgical treatment for hallux valgus is still controversial. A traditional distal metatarsal osteotomy with rigid fixation (Scarf procedure) and a more minimally invasive approach to a distal metatarsal osteotomy, termed SERI (Simple, Effective, Rapid, Inexpensive), have proven successful with short-term followup. However, no data are available directly comparing the two procedures. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We performed a prospective randomized trial to determine which technique (SERI or Scarf) was associated with (1) better functional outcomes, (2) better radiographic correction, and (3) fewer complications at 2 and 7 years followup. METHODS: Twenty patients, 53 ± 11 years of age, with bilateral hallux valgus, clinically and radiographically similar, underwent bilateral surgery with Scarf on one side and SERI on the other, at random. Clinical (AOFAS score) and radiographic assessments were considered before surgery, and at 7 years followup. RESULTS: SERI and Scarf techniques provided correction of the hallux valgus angle, intermetatarsal angle, and distal metatarsal angle in the range of normal. Both led to similar clinically important improvements in the AOFAS. No differences were observed between the groups. All osteotomies healed, and two patients who underwent the Scarf procedure required hardware removal. Reduction of ROM with respect to preoperative was observed in three patients for SERI and three patients for Scarf procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Scarf and SERI techniques resulted in effective correction of hallux valgus with similar outcomes, however the SERI technique required a shorter skin incision, less surgical time, less expensive fixation device, and was without residual pain attributable to hardware. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective comparative study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
    Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 03/2013; · 2.53 Impact Factor
  • Article: Scaffolds for cartilage repair of the ankle joint: The impact on surgical practice.
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    ABSTRACT: Ideal management of osteochondral lesions in the ankle joint is still theme of debate. Scaffold-based repair is emerging as a new approach for regenerative treatment. Articles published in PubMed from 2000 to January 2012 addressing cartilage scaffold-based treatment were identified, including levels I-IV evidence clinical trials with measures of functional, clinical or imaging outcome. The analysis showed a progressively increasing number of articles from 2000. The number of selected papers was 19:15 focusing on two-step and 4 on one-step procedures; no randomized studies, 3 comparative studies, 11 case series and 5 case reports were identified. Regenerative surgical approach with scaffold-based procedures is emerging as a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of chondral lesions of the ankle. One step treatments simplify the procedure and the results reported are very close to the previous techniques. However, well-designed studies are lacking, and randomized long-term trials are necessary to confirm the potential of these techniques. Review - IV.
    Foot and Ankle Surgery 03/2013; 19(1):2-8.
  • Article: One-step arthroscopic technique for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the knee with bone-marrow-derived cells: three years results.
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    ABSTRACT: Osteochondral lesions of the knee (OLK) are a common cause of knee pain and associated diseases. A new bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells technique has been developed for the treatment of OLK. 30 patients with OLK underwent arthroscopic one-step procedure. The bone marrow was harvested from the patients' posterior iliac crest and arthroscopically implanted with a scaffold into the lesion site. Clinical inspection and MRI were performed. Mean International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score before surgery was 29.9 ± 13.2 and 85.4 ± 4.2 at 29 ± 4.1 months (p < 0.0005), while Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) before surgery was 35.1 ± 11.9 and 87.3 ± 7.3 at 29 ± 4.1 months (p < 0.0005). Control MRI and bioptic samples showed an osteochondral regeneration of the lesion site. The one-step technique appears to be a good and reliable option for treatment of OLK at three years of follow-up. Level of evidence Case series, Level IV.
    MUSCULOSKELETAL SURGERY 02/2013;
  • Article: Allograft Salvage Procedure in Multiple-Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Multiple-revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions represent a surgical challenge due to the presence of previous tunnels, hardware, injuries to the secondary stabilizers, and difficulties in retrieving autologous tendons. An anatomic ACL reconstruction may therefore result in a demanding surgery, thus requiring 2 stages. PURPOSE:To analyze the efficacy of an over-the-top ACL reconstruction technique plus extra-articular plasty using Achilles or tibialis posterior tendon allograft in restoring knee stability in patients with at least 2 failed previous ACL reconstructions, as well as to evaluate the factors able to affect the final outcome. STUDY DESIGN:Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS:From 2002 to 2008, 24 male athletes with a mean age of 30.8 years underwent surgery. Twenty patients had undergone 2, whereas 4 patients had undergone 3 previous reconstructions. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score and KT-2000 arthrometric evaluation were used to measure outcomes at a mean follow-up period of 3.3 years (range, 2-7). RESULTS:The mean ± SD IKDC subjective score at follow-up was 81.3 ± 14.0. The IKDC objective score was an A or B in 20 patients (83%). Arthrometer side-to-side difference averaged 3.1 ± 1.1 mm. Range of motion was normal or nearly normal in 23 patients and abnormal in 1. Of the 20 good results, 17 patients resumed sports activity at the preinjury level. CONCLUSION:A 2-stage revision is an accepted option in cases of excessive tunnel enlargement and bone loss, especially on the femoral side, to achieve anatomic reconstruction. Nonanatomic over-the-top ACL reconstruction and lateral extra-articular plasty technique allow one to overcome difficult anatomic situations on the femoral side, permitting a 1-step surgery. The overall results obtained in this series are comparable with those of other ACL revision series. The higher rate of mild instability observed in our series may not be attributable to the surgical technique but rather to the chronic instability suffered by these knees before last revision.
    The American journal of sports medicine 01/2013; · 3.61 Impact Factor
  • Article: One-Step Repair in Talar Osteochondral Lesions: 4-Year Clinical Results and T2-Mapping Capability in Outcome Prediction.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:A recent one-step arthroscopic technique based on bone marrow-derived cell transplantation has achieved good results in repairing osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs), overcoming some of the drawbacks of older techniques. PURPOSE:To report the results after 4 years of a series of patients who underwent a one-step repair of osteochondral lesions of the talar dome, as well as the capability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a T2-mapping sequence to predict the clinical outcome. STUDY DESIGN:Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS:Forty-nine patients (age [mean ± SD], 28.08 ± 9.51 y) underwent a one-step repair of OLTs. Patients were evaluated clinically by American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores and radiographs and underwent MRI preoperatively and during postoperative follow-ups at predetermined times. In all patients, the cells were harvested from the iliac crest, concentrated, and loaded on a scaffold that was implanted arthroscopically. RESULTS:The overall AOFAS score (mean ± SD) improved from 63.73 ± 14.13 preoperatively to 82.19 ± 17.04 at 48 ± 6.1 months (P < .0005), with best results at the 24-month follow-up. A significant decrease in the clinical score was observed between 24 and 36 months postoperatively (P = .001) and between 24 and 48 months (P < .005). The T2-mapping analysis showed regenerated tissue with T2 values of 35 to 45 milliseconds, similar to hyaline cartilage, in a mean of 78% ± 16% of the repaired lesion area. The time between the occurrence of trauma and surgery was found to negatively affect the clinical outcome at the latest follow-up; patient's age and lesion size influenced the early clinical results but did not affect the outcome at final follow-up. The stability of clinical results over time and the percentage of tissue with values similar to hyaline cartilage evidenced by MRI T2 mapping showed a tendency to correlate at the last follow-up (r = 0.497, P = .06). CONCLUSION:One-step repair of OLTs had good clinical results that were durable over time, even though there was a slight decrease in AOFAS score at the latest follow-up. The quality of the regenerated tissue detected by MRI T2 mapping directly correlated with the clinical results.
    The American journal of sports medicine 12/2012; · 3.61 Impact Factor

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