Purpose  The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided intra-articular injections of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) versus hyaluronic acid (HA) for symptomatic early osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. Methods  A prospective controlled double-blinded randomized trial on 80 patients with hip OA was conducted. The patients were divided in two groups of 40 patients each: group 1 underwent three PRP intra-articular ultrasound-guided injections, whereas group 2 underwent three HA injections. WOMAC, VAS, and Harris Hip Score were evaluated for both groups before and at 6 and 12 months after treatment. Results  The two groups were comparable in age, sex, body mass index, and severity of hip OA. Both groups showed a significant improvement from baseline at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups for all the outcome measures. No major complications were observed during the treatment and at follow-ups in both the groups. Conclusion  PRP did not offer significantly better results compared with HA in patients with moderate signs of OA, and thus it should not be considered as first-line treatment. Level of Evidence  Level II, randomized controlled trial.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the results on anterior decompression and fusion with titanium mesh or expanding cage and plate fixation in patients with cervical myelopathy.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective multicentric review of 114 patients, 75 males and 39 females, with cervical myelopathy who underwent surgical treatment between July 2009 to December 2011. All surgeries were performed via a ventral approach. Based on the type of surgery the patients received, they were divided into 3 groups: group 1 consisted of 49 patients who received multilevel corpectomies and fusion with strut iliac bone graft and plates; group 2 consisted of 26 patients who received multilevel corpectomies and fusion with titanium expanding cage and plating; group 3 consisted of 39 patients who received multilevel corpectomies and fusion using titanium mesh with autologous bone graft and anterior plating.ResultsDecompression of the cervical spinal cord and grafting with plate fixation via a ventral approach demonstrated a high rate of improvement in neurological function with minimal complications. Fusion was documented radiologically in all cases. Eighty-three patients experienced a partial improvement and 41 had a complete recovery according to Nurick's myelopathy grading. Sixty-two patients were ranked as excellent, 48 as good, 4 as fair; unsatisfactory outcome was related to donor site complications.ConclusionSpinal decompression and fusion with titanium cages and plates appears to be a safe and effective alternative in patients with cervical spinal myelopathy.Level of evidenceLevel IV, therapeutic study.

SummaryOsteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an hereditary disease characterized by low bone mass, increased bone fragility, short stature, and skeletal deformities, few treatment options are currently available. Neridronate is an aminobisphosphonate, licensed in Italy for the treatment of OI and Paget's disease of bone. A characteristic property of neridronate is that it can be administered both intravenously and intramuscularly, providing an useful system for administration in homecare. Neridronate appears to increase Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in adults with OI and reduces bone resorption by inhibition of osteoclastic activity. Teriparatide (recombinant 1-34 N terminal sequence of human parathyroid hormone) is the first anabolic agent approved for the treatment of patients with osteoporosis and has been reported to increase bone formation by stimulating osteoblast differentiation, osteoblast function, and survival. The results of this study showed a promising role of teriparatide in the therapy of OI type I.

Purpose  To evaluate the prevalence of adhesive capsulitis (AC) of the shoulder in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Sardinia. Methods  In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated 943 patients with T1DM attending the division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University Hospital in Sassari, Italy. The criteria for diagnosing AC were: pain for at least 1 month, inability to lie on the affected shoulder, and restricted active and passive shoulder joint movements in at least three planes. Age, gender, duration of DM, blood pressure, and presence of neuropathy and retinopathy were noted. Metabolic control of DM was evaluated with glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (GHbA1c) blood concentrations. Results  AC was diagnosed in 331 patients (prevalence: 35.1%). Age, duration of DM, high blood pressure levels, and the presence of neuropathy and retinopathy were significantly associated with AC. No significant association was observed between gender and AC. There was no significant difference in mean levels of GHbA1c in T1DM patients with or without AC. Conclusion  This study shows that AC of the shoulder is a common disorder in patients with T1DM in Sardinia. It is significantly associated with age, duration of DM, and related complications. Level of Evidence  Level IV, observational cross-sectional study.

Energy spent during daily activities is recuperated by humans through sleep, ensuring optimal performance on the following day. Sleep disturbances are common: a meta-analysis on sleep quality showed that 15–30% of adults report sleep disorders, such as sleep onset latency (SOL), insufficient duration of sleep and frequently waking up at night. Low back pain (LBP) has been identified as one of the main causes of poor sleep quality. Literature findings are discordant on the type of mattress that might prevent onset of back pain, resulting in an improved quality of sleep. We conducted a systematic literature review of articles published until 2019, investigating the association of different mattresses with sleep quality and low back pain. Based on examined studies, mattresses were classified according to the European Committee for Standardization (2000) as: soft, medium-firm, extra-firm or mattresses customized for patients affected by supine decubitus. A total of 39 qualified articles have been included in the current systematic review. Results of this systematic review show that a medium-firm mattress promotes comfort, sleep quality and rachis alignment.