R Biagini

Ospedale Maggiore Carlo Alberto Pizzardi di Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

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Publications (101)102.26 Total impact

  • Article: Reconstruction of the anterior column of the thoracic and lumbar spine with a carbon fiber stackable cage system.
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    ABSTRACT: A carbon fiber stackable cage system is presented to promote the reconstruction of the anterior column after vertebrectomy or corpectomy in tumor and trauma surgery. Modularity, immediate stability, early fusion of the graft, radiolucency, and no risk of disease transmission are the main advantages of this system.
    Orthopedics 02/2002; 25(1):37-42. · 2.66 Impact Factor
  • Article: Osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma of the sacrum.
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    ABSTRACT: This retrospective study examined 10 patients with osteoid osteoma and 11 patients with osteoblastoma localized in the sacrococcyx. In the sacrum, the diagnosis was delayed compared to other sites. Curettage through a posterior approach is the treatment of choice. Radiotherapy as well as embolization of feeding arteries may be used for the most aggressive lesions. Prognosis is generally good with a low incidence of local recurrence (<10%).
    Orthopedics 11/2001; 24(11):1061-4. · 2.66 Impact Factor
  • Article: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with synchronous multifocal osteosarcoma: results in eleven cases.
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    ABSTRACT: Between January 1995 and December 1999, 11 patients with synchronous multifocal osteosarcoma (SMO) received neoadjuvant treatment with high-dose methotrexate, cisplatinum, Adriamycin, and ifosfamide. After primary chemotherapy in 4 patients who had only two bone localizations, it was possible to treat all tumor foci locally. The remaining patients, with more than three bones involved, were treated surgically only in 3 cases at the primary site, while secondary lesions did not receive any treatment. The final results of our study were disappointing. All patients died of the tumor 6 to 24 months after the beginning of treatment (mean 11.9 months). Nevertheless, the survival time of the 4 patients with locally treated lesions was significantly longer than the one of 7 patients in whom the secondary lesions were not locally treated (18.2 vs 9.1 months; P<0.008). It should be noted that those patients simultaneously operated on two sites, the response to chemotherapy of "primary" and "secondary" lesions was always similar. This homogeneity supports the thesis that in synchronous multifocal osteosarcoma the tumors are not multicentric in origin but represent bone-to-bone metastases from a monocentric tumor.
    Journal of chemotherapy (Florence, Italy) 07/2001; 13(3):324-30. · 1.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: Telangiectatic osteosarcoma of the extremity: neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 24 cases.
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    ABSTRACT: Between April 1990 and December 1994, we treated 24 patients with telangiectatic osteosarcoma (TO) of the extremities with neoadjuvant chemotherapy using 2 protocols. Surgery consisted of limb salvage in 21 patients and amputation or rotation plasty in 3. The histologic response to chemotherapy was good (90% or more tumor necrosis) in 23 patients, of whom 12 had total necrosis. With a mean follow-up of 74 (60-96) months, 20 patients remained continuously free of disease and 4 relapsed with lung metastases. There were no local recurrences. Comparing these results to the ones achieved in 269 contemporary patients with conventional osteosarcoma of the extremities using the same protocols for chemotherapy, we found a significantly better histologic response to chemotherapy (96% vs 68% of good histologic response; p = 0.004) and disease-free survival (83% vs 55%; p = 0.01) in the TO group. We conclude that TO, once considered a lethal tumor, seems to be even more sensitive to chemotherapy than conventional osteosarcoma, and that most of these patients may be cured without amputation.
    Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica 05/2001; 72(2):167-72.
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    Article: Aneurysmal bone cyst of the mobile spine: report on 41 cases.
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    ABSTRACT: Forty-one cases of aneurysmal bone cyst of the mobile spine were retrospectively reviewed. To evaluate the role of surgical and nonsurgical treatment of aneurysmal bone cyst of the spine. Ten to 30% of aneurysmal bone cysts arise from the mobile spine, frequently occurring in pediatric patients. The course of the disease depends on the aggressiveness of the tumor, as well as the treatment. Intralesional surgery seems to be an effective treatment, as well as radiotherapy and embolization. All charts, radiographs, and images were reviewed. The composite information provided by this review allowed for oncologic and surgical staging of these cases. Thirty-two patients underwent curettage (14 of them followed by radiotherapy), four were submitted to selective arterial embolization, three received radiotherapy alone, and two underwent en bloc-excision. All patients were found alive and disease free at final follow-up evaluation. Two recurrences followed one incomplete curettage and one embolization. The combination of curettage and radiotherapy, although effective, showed the greatest incidence of late axial deformity. Selective arterial embolization was curative in three of four cases and did not affect the possibility of surgery in case of local recurrence. If confirmed on larger series, selective arterial embolization seems to be the first treatment option for spine aneurysmal bone cyst, because of the low cost-to-benefit ratio. Diagnosis must be certain, based on pathognomonic radiographic pattern or on histologic study.- In case of neurologic involvement, pathologic fracture, technical impossibility of performing embolization, or local recurrence after at least two embolization procedures, complete intralesional excision would be the therapy of choice.
    Spine 02/2001; 26(1):27-35. · 2.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: Chondrosarcoma of the mobile spine: report on 22 cases.
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    ABSTRACT: A retrospective review of 22 cases of chondrosarcoma arising from the mobile spine. To evaluate the role of oncologic and surgical staging in correlating management and outcome of chondrosarcoma involving the spine. Approximately 10% of chondrosarcomas arise from the mobile spine, occurring mainly in adults, particularly elderly men. The course of the disease depends on the aggressiveness of the tumor, but also is influenced by the management. Intralesional surgery is followed almost constantly by local recurrence even with adjuvant therapy. All charts, radiographs, and images were reviewed. The composite information provided by this review allowed for oncologic and surgical staging of the reviewed cases. According to Enneking criteria, the surgical procedures were defined as curettage (piecemeal excision) or en blocexcision. The margins were submitted to histologic study and reported as intralesional, marginal, or wide. - As primary management, 10 intralesional curettages (follow-up period, 2-119 months; average, 61 months) and 12 en bloc excisions (follow-up period, 39-207 months; average, 97 months) were performed. A total of 33 procedures were performed, including the management of the recurrences (18 curettages and 15 en bloc excisions: one for soft tissue recurrence). A clinical and radiographic follow-up period of of 2 to 236 months (average, 81 months; minimal follow-up period for survivors, 30 months; average follow-up period for survivors, 115 months) was available for all the patients. Three recurrences occurred in 14 patients treated by en bloc excision at onset or for recurrence, two in cases of histologically proven contaminated or intralesional margins. All but one patient were alive at final follow-up evaluation. Conversely, all the patients treated by one or more curettages (with or without adjuvant radiation therapy) had at least one recurrence, and 8 of 10 of these patients died of the disease. At final follow-up evaluation, nine patients had died of the disease; nine were continuously disease free (but one had died of another unrelated malignancy); and four were symptom free after management for recurrences (one was found alive 155 months after a soft-tissue metastasis en-bloc excision). En bloc excision, with wide or marginal histologic margins, is the suggested management for chondrosarcomas of the spine. Early diagnosis and careful surgical staging and planning are necessary for conducting adequate management. However, tumor contamination of the specimen margins, even in a small area, or spreading of the tumor myxoid content can worsen the prognosis.
    Spine 05/2000; 25(7):804-12. · 2.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: Nonmetastatic osteosarcoma of the extremity: results of a neoadjuvant chemotherapy protocol (IOR/OS-3) with high-dose methotrexate, intraarterial or intravenous cisplatin, doxorubicin, and salvage chemotherapy based on histologic tumor response.
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    ABSTRACT: From 1986 to 1989, a study for the treatment of nonmetastatic osteosarcoma of the extremity (IOR/OS-2) was carried out at the Rizzoli Institute. The cumulative dose of doxorubicin delivered was 480 mg/m2, and severe heart failure developed in 5 (3%) of the 164 treated patients. The specific aim of the subsequent study was to assess the efficacy of a protocol, similar to IOR/OS-2, but with a reduced cumulative dose of doxorubicin (390 mg/m2). Additional aims were to assess the role of the route of infusion (intraarterial or intravenous) of cisplatin on histologic response of the primary tumor and the use of ifosfamide as salvage chemotherapy in poor responders. The new chemotherapy regimen (IOR/OS-3) was comprised of a preoperative phase with methotrexate (10 g/m2), cisplatin (120 mg/m2 intraarterially or intravenously), and doxorubicin (60 mg/m2). After surgery, the same drugs were administered, with the addition of ifosfamide (10 g/m2) in patients who had a poor histologic response to primary chemotherapy. Ninety-five patients entered the study. The rate of good histologic response was 64% with intraarterial cisplatin and 43% with intravenous cisplatin (P = 0.05). The 8-year event-free survival and overall survival were 54% and 61%, respectively, with no significant difference according to the histologic response. No cases of clinical doxorubicin-induced cardiopathy were recorded. Event-free and overall survival did not significantly differ from those achieved with IOR/OS-2 (8-year disease-free and overall survival, respectively 63% and 72%). The reduction in the doxorubicin cumulative dose avoided episodes of cardiotoxicity, without consequences on the efficacy of treatment. The addition of ifosfamide was an effective "salvage" therapy for poor responders. A better histologic response with intraarterial cisplatin was observed, but owing to the availability of an effective salvage therapy for poor responders, the advantages in terms of histologic response did not compensate for the cost and discomfort for the patients of this modality of infusion of cisplatin.
    Tumori 12/1999; 85(6):458-64. · 0.86 Impact Factor
  • Article: Osteolytic extra-axial sacral myxopapillary ependymoma.
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    ABSTRACT: The authors report an unusual case of sacral osteolytic myxopapillary ependymoma treated with curettage and radiotherapy. There is no evidence of recurrence 8 years after treatment. A review of the literature is presented on sacral ependymomas presenting with an osteolytic radiographic appearance (24 cases in 18 reports). The differential diagnosis with other sacral neoplasms is discussed.
    Skeletal Radiology 11/1999; 28(10):584-9. · 1.54 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Local recurrence after surgical or surgical-chemotherapeutic treatment of osteosarcoma of the limbs. Incidence, risk factors and prognosis].
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    ABSTRACT: Local recidivation (incidence, risk factors an prognosis) was analysed retrospectively in 765 patients with non-metastatic osteosarcoma of the extremities treated between 1972 and 1992 either with surgery alone (78 cases) or with surgery and associated adjuvant (258 cases) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (429 cases). The local recurrence of the disease, which was documented in 26 patients (3.4%), was significantly related to the type of surgery performed (1.1% in 344 amputated patients vs 5.2% in 422 patients treated with resection; p < 0.003) and with surgical margins (0.6% in 700 radical or extensive operations vs 22.7% in 66 marginal or intralesional interventions; p = 0.0001). In patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the incidence of local recidivation was also correlated with the type of histological response to chemotherapy (2.9% in 274 cases with a "good" response vs 8.4% in 154 cases with a "poor" response; p < 0.021). In all 26 patients local recidivation was associated with metastases occurring before (16 cases), after (3 cases) or in concomitance (7 cases) with the local recurrence of neoplasia. In spite of treatment performed at the start of recidivation, 25 patients (96.1%) died from the tumour whereas the mortality rate in those patients with metastases but no local recidivation was only 72.1% (261 out of 362 cases). This difference was also statistically significant (p < 0.01). The results obtained appear to justify the current trend of minimising demolitive surgery in osteosarcoma of the extremities. Surgery should only be performed in these patients by centres able to make an adequate evaluation of surgical margins and the histological response to preoperative chemotherapy. In view of the fatal prognosis linked to recidivation and the high probability of its onset in cases with inadequate surgical margins and a poor response to chemotherapy, the authors propose that subsequent amputation should be performed immediately in those patients undergoing resection who present both these conditions.
    Minerva chirurgica 12/1998; 53(7-8):619-29. · 0.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Significance of computerized tomography in the diagnosis of post-traumatic proximal carpal instability].
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    ABSTRACT: Proximal carpal instability is a painful condition characterized by early or late loss of radioulnar joint (RUJ) congruence not affecting the normal bone alignment of the two carpal rows. The joint incongruence or (incomplete) dislocation which leads to proximal instability is caused by many traumatic and nontraumatic events. The diagnosis of (incomplete) dislocation of the distal RUJ may be extremely difficult to make at conventional radiography because such injuries can be seen only when the lateral joint projection is perfect; otherwise the diagnosis is not reliable. CT is the only imaging tool diagnosing the grade of distal RUJ congruence independent of the examination technique. We studied the radiocarpal complex conditions leading to proximal instability at the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute from December, 1995, through December, 1997. In all, 389 cases were seen, 376 from trauma and 13 of nontraumatic origin. Each injury was studied with conventional radiography, CT, and MRI. Radiography was performed in two projections, namely the posteroanterior one with hand extension and the lateral one with the forearm in neutral position and the elbow bent at 90 degrees; the projections were repeated whenever a cast brace was applied. Unenhanced CT was performed for comparison with the patient prone and the forearm and wrist in prone and neutral position, as well as with the patient, forearm and wrist supine. Three criteria of electronic image processing were adopted for the RUJ studies in the 3 projections: radioulnar lines, congruence, and epicenter. MRI was always performed after conventional radiography and CT. Only the involved radiocarpal region was studied; coronal, axial and sagittal images were acquired with T2-weighted GE and T1-weighted SE sequences. Proximal instability was found in 17 of 389 patients; it was early in 13 and late in 4 of them. The comparison of radiographic and CT results showed that the former method is unreliable, with 53% false negatives. Pain, a cast brace, congenital or acquired deformities of distal radius and ulna and patient mispositioning by the radiology technician can change the rotation of the forearm, wrist and hand and make a perfect laterolateral projection in neutral position unfeasible, which affects the radiographic diagnosis. Conversely, CT showed its extreme efficacy in assessing the distal RUJ congruence with no false negatives independent of the RUJ rotation and of instability type and grade. Conventional radiography is a poorly reliable tool for the diagnosis of joint incongruence and its grade. In contrast, CT can diagnose a RUJ (incomplete) dislocation easily and unquestionably, thanks to its axial capabilities, even when adequate radiographic studies would be unfeasible. If the anteroposterior projection of the radiocarpal complex shows a congenital or acquired deformity of distal radius, the lateral projection can be skipped and a CT scan in prone, neutral and supine position performed. The 3 CT criteria quantify incongruence type and grade, and also demonstrate the position of maximum incongruence and its decrease by position. The comparative study of the radiocarpal region makes CT a very useful and valuable tool in congenital instability because its allows the assessment of contralateral radioulnar congruence too. MRI is very useful in the diagnosis of injury or degeneration of the fibrocartilage complex, namely in patients with no bone changes at conventional radiography.
    La radiologia medica 10/1998; 96(3):190-7. · 1.44 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Traditional radiology in the assessment of posttraumatic carpal instability].
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    ABSTRACT: Carpal instability is a painful posttraumatic syndrome with early or late loss of the normal alignment of the carpal bones, which can be caused by a variety of injuries, from minor sprain to major fracture-dislocation of the carpal-wrist complex. If the trauma causing instability is a fracture, a severe dislocation or a fracture-dislocation, the radiographic diagnosis is not particularly difficult. The morphologic and dynamic complexity of the carpal region represents, instead, a major obstacle in the radiologic diagnosis of mild or moderate sprains because the morphologic alterations on standard static views are minimal or absent in these conditions. We reviewed 214 injuries causing posttraumatic carpal instability including both the cases classified by the Data Analysis Center of the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli as carpal dislocations and fracture-dislocations from January, 1975, to July, 1996, and the more recent cases directly observed at our Casualty Clinic. In the former cases, we reviewed only the available images, while our patients were examined with comparative standard and under stress or dynamic views. Of 214 lesions causing posttraumatic carpal instability, 43 along the great arch were classified as severe because they were easily detectable on standard films and 171 along the small arch were classified as mild because slight/no abnormalities were detected on standard static views. Only dynamic imaging showed posttraumatic carpal instability demonstrating the integrity of the ligaments and of the carpal hinges, as well as gaps or asymmetry not detected on static views. We suggest the systematic use of dynamic imaging in the cases where static findings are negative or poor, in the patients with a painful wrist after an apparently minor sprain. Missed or delayed diagnoses are thus reduced, as well as the consequent joint incongruity and/or chronic subluxation which may severely impair these patients.
    La radiologia medica 10/1997; 94(3):157-65. · 1.44 Impact Factor
  • Article: A system for surgical staging and management of spine tumors. A clinical outcome study of giant cell tumors of the spine.
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    ABSTRACT: This study developed and independently applied a spine tumor classification system, referred to as the Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini system, in a retrospective analysis of a series of patients with spinal giant cell tumors from three institutions. To evaluate factors of potential prognostic significance for recurrence of spinal giant cell tumors. No prior reviews of patients treated with modern surgical techniques are available. Charts and radiographs for 36 cases of spinal giant cell tumors were reviewed by an independent investigator. All patients had had recent clinical follow-up examinations. All patients were classified according to the Enneking system. A subgroup of 24 patients for whom preoperative computed tomography scans were available were classified using the Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini staging system. Outcome measures included pain, neurologic status, and tumor recurrence. Recurrence rates were substantially higher among patients treated with attempted surgical excision before referral to a tertiary care center (83% vs. 18%). There was a higher recurrence rate for tumors that involved the vertebral body and posterior elements in comparison with lesions residing in only anterior elements (24% vs. 0%). Tumors that had extra-osseous extension into the canal and into the paraspinous musculature had a higher recurrence rate than tumors either confined to the osseous compartment or with extension either into the spinal canal or externally into paraspinous planes, but not both (21% vs. 10%). These results indicate that the Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini system may prove useful in developing treatment algorithms and in assessing outcome for these rare and difficult lesions. At least in the case of giant cell tumors, the musculoskeletal tumor staging system as developed by Enneking for long bones suggests the ideal surgical margin and may provide information relevant to tumor recurrence rates. Additional aspects of tumor extent and location, however, may berelevant to primary tumor recurrence rates when the selesions occur in the spine.
    Spine 09/1997; 22(15):1773-82; discussion 1783. · 2.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: Primary bone tumors of the spine. Terminology and surgical staging.
    S Boriani, J N Weinstein, R Biagini
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    ABSTRACT: Appropriate application of an oncologic staging system is required to evaluate the relationship among histologic types, management, and outcome of primary bone tumors. A commonly accepted terminology for surgical procedures and for definition of tumor extent is needed for surgical planning and clinical reviews. The principles of the Enneking system for classifying stages of tumors are emphasized and applied to the spine using a practical approach for surgical staging.
    Spine 06/1997; 22(9):1036-44. · 2.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: En bloc resections of bone tumors of the thoracolumbar spine. A preliminary report on 29 patients.
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    ABSTRACT: Twenty-nine patients with primary bone tumors and solitary metastases of the thoracolumbar spine treated with en bloc resection are reviewed retrospectively. To demonstrate the possibility to apply in the spine the same principles of surgical oncology adopted for primary bone tumors of the limbs. The surgical oncologic staging systems currently applied in limb tumor surgery are difficult to apply to spinal tumors. The anatomic conditions make extralesional surgery difficult or impossible, which has restrained a more common use of resection surgery in the spine. Focus is put on a new surgical staging system and en bloc vertebral resection. Twenty-five primary malignant and aggressive benign bone tumors and four solitary metastases were treated. The patients were submitted to oncologic and surgical staging for surgical planning. The primary tumors were classified according to Enneking system: three Stage IA, six Stage IB, eight Stage IIB, eight Stage 3 benign. Staging according to the Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini system was also done. Thirteen lesions involved the vertebral body; nine lesions developed in the posterior arch, or part of it, and seven lesions occupied part of the body and part of the arch. A careful anesthesiologic evaluation was performed as well as a continuous intraoperative on-line monitoring of the vital parameters. The en bloc resections (multisegmental in five patients) were performed in 10 thoracic, in 16 lumbar, in two thoracolumbar lesions, and in one lumbosacral lesion. Reconstruction was performed, aiming to replace the resected columns. The specimens were submitted to histologic study of the margins. All the patients were followed, and their status was defined on clinical and imaging studies. In 20 patients, a wide margin was achieved, in eight a marginal margin, in one an intralesional margin. The margin was contaminated in seven patients. Surgical time was 3-21 hours (average, 12 hours). No patient died during surgery or from surgical complications. Three mechanical failures of the implants required additional surgery. One deep infection arose. The only neurologic problems observed were related to the nerve roots sectioned for oncologic purpose. No local recurrence was found at follow-up evaluation after 6-134 months (average, 30 months). En bloc resection can be performed in selected tumors of the spine; the indication to such major surgery must be based on the oncologic stage, and the procedure must be carefully planned. For this purpose, the Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini system could be a helpful tool. Long-term results must be weighed before a definitive statement of the indications can be made.
    Spine 09/1996; 21(16):1927-31. · 2.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: Chordoma of the spine above the sacrum. Treatment and outcome in 21 cases.
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    ABSTRACT: Twenty-one cases of chordoma arising in the mobile spine were retrospectively reviewed. All the cases were submitted to oncologic and surgical staging to correlate treatment and outcome. Excluding plasmacytomas, chordoma is the most frequent primary malignant tumor of the spine, occurring mainly in elderly men. The course of the disease is slow, metastases occur late, and death can result from complications related to local extension of the disease. Complete excision of the tumor according to oncologic criteria can be hampered by extension of the tumor and by anatomic constraints in the mobile spine. All charts, radiographs, and images were reviewed. The composite information provided by this review allowed for oncologic and surgical staging of these cases. Treatment was defined according to Ennekings criteria. All the patients were followed for determination of their status clinically and radiographically. Ten patients died (1 to 137 months after treatment, mean 65 months); four patients are alive with the disease; only seven patients (33%) are symptom free at the final follow-up (39 to 112 months after treatment, mean 65 months). Conventional radiation therapy was not effective in eradicating the tumor, even if associated with palliative or debulking surgery: of 15 cases, 12 were associated with recurrence or progression. Intralesional surgery also was not effective (two recurrences in two cases, 18 to 41 months later). En bloc excision of the lesion, sometimes combined with radiation therapy as an adjuvant, obtained the best results (four patients disease free at 39 to 112 months, mean 77 months). En bloc excision--even if marginal--is the treatment of choice of chordomas of the spine. Early diagnosis and careful surgical staging and planning are necessary. Megavoltage radiation can be administered as an adjuvant.
    Spine 08/1996; 21(13):1569-77. · 2.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: Primary bone tumors of the spine: a survey of the evaluation and treatment at the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli.
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    ABSTRACT: The experience at Istituto Rizzoli with 366 primary bone tumors of the spine focuses on the criteria for planning and treatment. An accurate preoperative evaluation by standard radiograph, computerized tomography scan, and magnetic resonance imaging allow the classification of benign lesions as latent (not requiring treatment), active (curettage), or aggressive (curettage plus adjuvants or marginal resection). The malignant lesions are classified as intracompartmental or extracompartmental (both low and high grade). Wide resection is attempted, but seldom is feasible. An angiographic study of the spinal cord is compulsory for lesions located in the thoracolumbar region. The value of embolization is enhanced, primarily in highly vascular lesions. An accurate preoperative study of the vital parameters of the patient, together with a continuous intraoperative monitoring, is mandatory.
    Orthopedics 11/1995; 18(10):993-1000. · 2.66 Impact Factor
  • Article: Two-level thoracic disc herniation.
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    ABSTRACT: A double, contiguous disc herniation in the thoracic spine (T7-T8, T8-T9) in a 44-year-old man is reported. The patient complained of intermittent episodes of weakness and numbness in the lower extremities, paraesthesias radiating to the anterior and medial surfaces of the thigh and the leg (mostly on the left side), and mild sexual and urinary dysfunction. The treatment must achieve complete spinal cord decompression, prevent further herniation, and prevent iatrogenic vascular damage to the cord. A transthoracic approach seems to offer the largest surgical view. Twenty-six other cases of two-level thoracic disc herniation were found in the literature, only five of which were treated with a transthoracic approach. Treatment consisted of complete disc excision (T7-T8 and T8-T9) with a right anterior transthoracic approach. Complete and safe removal of the discs required hemicorporectomy of T8 and subsequent grafting and plating. Spinal cord angiography, showing the Adamkiewicz artery originating from the left T10, was performed before surgery. Computed tomography-guided methylene blue injection in the retropleural interspace of T7-T8 was done for intraoperative level localization. At 1 year follow-up, complete relief of neurologic symptoms was observed, as was solid interbody fusion. In this case, a transthoracic approach was safe and effective for disc excision and cord decompression via hemicorporectomy.
    Spine 12/1994; 19(21):2461-6. · 2.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: Ankle resection arthrodesis in patients with bone tumors.
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    ABSTRACT: The authors report 12 cases of bone tumors localized in the distal tibia treated by resection and reconstruction with ankle arthrodesis, using bone grafts and fixation with Kuntscher or Grosse-Kempf nail or plate. In seven cases autografts were used, and in five cases autografts combined with allografts were used. In three of these five patients, a vascularized fibula combined with a "gutter-like" allograft was used to reconstruct the bone defect. In all cases, the functional and oncologic results were good and all patients were disease free at an average follow-up of 68 months.
    The Foot and Ankle Online Journal 06/1994; 15(5):242-9. · 1.22 Impact Factor
  • Article: Complications and surgical indications in 144 cases of nonmetastatic osteosarcoma of the extremities treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
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    ABSTRACT: From September 1986 to December 1989, 144 patients with osteosarcoma of the extremities were treated with combined surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The disease-free survival was 79% for good responders (necrosis greater than 90%) and 72% for poor responders (necrosis less than 90%), and the local recurrence rate was low. Improvement in long-term prognosis and the increase of limb-sparing surgery determine a higher rate of immediate and late complications. Most of the complications were observed in limb-salvage procedures; 63% of these procedures presented one or more complications. In nine rotationsplasties, there were four complications, and in 13 amputations no complications were observed. Therefore, 55% of patients were affected by surgical complications. Twenty-eight complications were considered minor (not requiring surgery), whereas 77 complications were major. Functional results, evaluated according to Enneking's new system, were higher than 50% in two thirds of the limb-salvage procedures. Complications in limb-salvage procedures are more influenced by the type of reconstruction than by the surgical procedure used. Probably the most troublesome consequence of surgical complications in osteosarcoma is the deviation or delay in administering postoperative chemotherapy, which jeopardizes survival.
    Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 11/1993; · 2.53 Impact Factor
  • Article: Solid variant of aneurysmal bone cyst.
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    ABSTRACT: Of the 200 cases of ABC in the Rizzoli Institute files, 15 had solid features on both gross and histologic examination. Inasmuch as fibrous proliferation with giant cell and bone production along with fibromyxoid areas and small aneurysmal spaces were found in the solid parts of the aneurysmal bone cyst, a grossly solid and radiographically osteolytic bone lesion with these microscopic features was called a solid aneurysmal bone cyst. Some authors call the same lesion extragnathic giant cell reparative granuloma. Sixty percent of the patients were female. The metaphysis was the preferred location in the long bones (8/11). Radiographic appearance was not specific, and sometimes a malignant lesion was very difficult to rule out. In seven patients, the lesion was considered radiographically "aggressive." Intralesional excision (curettage) in 12 patients and marginal resection in 3 patients with diaphyseal location was effective in controlling the lesion. No recurrence was detected after a mean follow-up of 59 months. High proliferative activity of the benign-appearing proliferative spindle cells, often with fairly abundant mitoses, associated with benign giant cells and immature bone production are the features of this pseudosarcomatous hyperplastic lesion. It is sometimes is mistaken for a malignant tumor.
    Cancer 03/1993; 71(3):729-34. · 4.77 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 1997–2001
    • Ospedale Maggiore Carlo Alberto Pizzardi di Bologna
      • Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
      Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
  • 1987–2001
    • Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
      Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
  • 1989–1995
    • University of Bologna
      Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy