Advertisement


Advertisement

Quick Login

Advertisement


« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Arthrofibrosis in Italy  (Read 971 times)

Offline ItalianKnee

  • MINIgeek (20-50 posts)
  • **
  • Posts: 24
  • Liked: 0
Arthrofibrosis in Italy
« on: July 16, 2012, 09:42:34 PM »
Dear All,

I write from Italy, where i live.
Since last March  - due to a ski accident which caused the avulsion of my right tibial spine - i struggle with my knee.
I recently had surgery to remove scar tissues (I was blocked for 2 months in a cast) but the situation did not improve as i hoped.
My problem is that this issue - AF i mean - is truly unknown in Italy. There is very little in the Internet and most doctors do not really know how to handle it. They literally ignore the problem.
For this reason I ask for your help. Did anybody have some sort of experience with Italian doctors for AF?

I had a look at the list of the italian experts in the site. They are actually well known orthopedics but not so sure they are experts in AF.

I would feel so much better if I only could find someone who managed to have a direct experience.

Thank you in advance for your attention.

Fran
Logged

Offline missmyknee

  • SuperKNEEgeek
  • *****
  • Posts: 2013
  • Liked: 0
  • From the Land of OZ
Re: Arthrofibrosis in Italy
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2012, 04:53:24 AM »
Hi Fran

We don't have a bonified list of AF doctors in Europe like we have for the U.S. The ones in the U.S. have been used by those who posted. Most of the ones for Europe are identified by their articles on arthrofibrosis. Here is the thread discussing doctors in the UK and Europe.

http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEtalk/index.php?topic=56744.0

The was one doctor located in Rome, Dr Pier Paulo Mariani. No one has posted any experience with him.

http://www.pierpaolomariani.it/

His article on AF

http://www.springerlink.com/content/cg06885171w454x4/

Try searching for research and journal articles on AF, for someone in Italy.

Here is an article on AF in ACL from Florence ( several doctors as author)

http://www.deepdyve.com/lp/springer-journals/results-of-surgical-treatment-of-arthrofibrosis-after-acl-epFpznkcOn

another

http://www.springerlink.com/content/l215n16834075227/

Don't know if you saw this list of knee surgeons in Italy

http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/node/385

Here are some to start you off.

Pam
« Last Edit: July 17, 2012, 04:59:25 AM by missmyknee »
Logged
4Fx Clsd red
IMrod fib plate
derotate osteotmy tibfib
AF
IPCS patbaja
DeLeeOsteotmy,LOA,LR Zplasty,bongrf,chondrplty
chondrplty,LOA,fatpad remvd
TKR
openLOA,neurectmy,ITB Zplasty,fabela
PLC recon,revison,LOA,synovec
MCL,revison LOA
openLOA,prox Zplasty
openLOA, 6 neuromas excised,synov
3 Fusions

Offline ItalianKnee

  • MINIgeek (20-50 posts)
  • **
  • Posts: 24
  • Liked: 0
Re: Arthrofibrosis in Italy
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2012, 01:45:02 PM »
Dearest Pam,

thank you for your reply.
The articles that you posted are virtually the only things that you can find in Italy on the issue AF...we are really far away...
I also had a look at the list, but most of them are OS not specifically trained in AF.

In general, the problem AF is treated as something that can happen, but is not specifically addressed with surgery and rehab strategies. I was immobilized in a cast for an awful 1 and 1/2 month...and my surgeon did not even mention the word AF as a possible consequence.
There are few forums dedicated to knee problems in Italy and none of them recognizes the problem.

It is hard to get infos. For this reason I hoped to find in this site someone who had some experience in Italy...

Sometimes I have a feeling as if nobody in this Country experienced the problem but me...and it is so frustrating...

Logged

Offline Rennschnecke

  • SuperKNEEgeek
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 879
  • Liked: 0
Re: Arthrofibrosis in Italy
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2012, 10:03:08 PM »
Hello Fran,

To some extent all OSs are trained in AF in that they know what the condition is, how it may arise and what the common procedures are.  Those who write about the condition will have encountered cases that are either complex and/or frequent.

The names that Pam has directed you to are worth pursuing.  Otherwise, find notable surgeons who deal with complex soft-tissue conditions, e.g. multiple ligament repairs, ACL repairs and also cartilage repair specialists.

If you had an avulsion fracture then the primary course of action is to help the bone repair which may mean immobilisation in a cast.  The risk of incurring AF is deemed to be more easily attended to than a poorly repaired bone.  It's really bad luck that you have suffered in this way.  Bear in mind that you may not get news about potential complications if your OS had no choice in the course of action to take (i.e. mend bone).

You are unlikely to be alone with AF.  It is more common for those with knee replacements, but the treatment for those with knee replacements is often different for those who have incurred AF from other situations.

Good luck with your search.
Logged
1/05 Ski accident: 5/05 ACLr LK; 10/06 Scope – debridement, trochlear cartilage lesion (Gr4); 12/08 Scope – chondroplasty, hematoma; 5 & 6/09 MACI patella & trochlea 'kissing lesions', ROM 0 to 80; 9/09 Scope – LOA, IPCS & patella infera; 9/10 Scope – AIR & LR.

Offline Decruz

  • Forum Faithful
  • ****
  • Posts: 351
  • Liked: 0
Re: Arthrofibrosis in Italy
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2012, 10:19:02 PM »
Quote from: ItalianKnee on July 16, 2012, 09:42:34 PM
Dear All,

I write from Italy, where i live.
Since last March  - due to a ski accident which caused the avulsion of my right tibial spine - i struggle with my knee.
I recently had surgery to remove scar tissues (I was blocked for 2 months in a cast) but the situation did not improve as i hoped.
My problem is that this issue - AF i mean - is truly unknown in Italy. There is very little in the Internet and most doctors do not really know how to handle it. They literally ignore the problem.
For this reason I ask for your help. Did anybody have some sort of experience with Italian doctors for AF?

I had a look at the list of the italian experts in the site. They are actually well known orthopedics but not so sure they are experts in AF.
I would feel so much better if I only could find someone who managed to have a direct experience.
Thank you in advance for your attention.

Fran

Fran,
I'm in Europe with your same problem - as far as I know all across Europe you can find experts in arthrofibrosis in Germany and UK only.
I went in USA to discover I had AF, and after that, no matter in what part of Europe you're located, through internet I found experts in arthrofibrosis in Germany and UK only, even if I never went to be visited by them personally (about UK has to be told that I've heard of many UK people flying to US too as they weren't treated properly in their own country, maybe someone of them will answer to your post too...as well as I've heard of others finding experts directly in UK, I remember few UK doctors names also, in case, but please note I was never to them personally so at the end of the day I don't know how they're are in person, etc.)

Please send me an e-mail at my e-mail address ("dcrzk@aol.com") as we can't talk here through private messages as you've not reached 20 posts yet (I can write you a private message but you won't be able to answer me back).
Bye
Logged
Decruz

"Forward..."

Offline missmyknee

  • SuperKNEEgeek
  • *****
  • Posts: 2013
  • Liked: 0
  • From the Land of OZ
Re: Arthrofibrosis in Italy
« Reply #5 on: July 18, 2012, 02:52:31 AM »
Hi Fran

Arthrofibrosis is not a credentialed specialty doctors train in, so you are not going to find it in their curriculum vitae. These AF doctors are doctors who have seen and treated many patients, who have come to them. They have done the research on the subject and have developed techniques in surgery, the protocols for post surgery and have had success treating and rehabbing AF patients. The list of AF doctors in the U.S. came about from posters who found their articles, then sought out treatment from them and had success or satisfactory results from the doctor.

Have you seen the info in the information hub, on this website, about AF? I will post the link. It has the most comprehensive amount of info on AF, on the internet. Make sure you read thru Dr Noyes 12 part tutorial on AF. It is excellent. Some of us have copied it to give to doctors and PTs to educate them. Only about 1% of patients develope AF, so that is why you feel like you are the only one. Here is the link:

http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/taxonomy/term/71

Here is Dr Noyes link

http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/node/633

I've been a member of this forum since 2003 and I have not heard of anyone from Italy with AF and their treatment. There was a doctor in Germany ,that was used by a Kneeguru member, who had successful results.

Prolonged immobilization is one of the triggers how AF can develope. That was one of the triggers how my own AF developed. I was immobilized for 5 1/2 weeks.

The correct rehab protocol is also key to giving the knee the best possible chance for recovery. I had to copy Dr Noyes tutorial and Dirk Kokmeyer's rehab tutorial to give to my PT to follow. Rehabbing from AF is a very long process with periods of having to start from square one again. Rehab must be kept within a pain free zone so as not to throw the knee into inflammation, which starts the scar tissue formation cycle. Here are the links to Dirk's rehab protocol:

http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/node/634
http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/node/745
http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/node/2019

You might copy the information from these links and give to your doctor and PT.

Pam
Logged
4Fx Clsd red
IMrod fib plate
derotate osteotmy tibfib
AF
IPCS patbaja
DeLeeOsteotmy,LOA,LR Zplasty,bongrf,chondrplty
chondrplty,LOA,fatpad remvd
TKR
openLOA,neurectmy,ITB Zplasty,fabela
PLC recon,revison,LOA,synovec
MCL,revison LOA
openLOA,prox Zplasty
openLOA, 6 neuromas excised,synov
3 Fusions

Offline ItalianKnee

  • MINIgeek (20-50 posts)
  • **
  • Posts: 24
  • Liked: 0
Re: Arthrofibrosis in Italy
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2012, 12:33:09 PM »
Hi all. Thanks for your kind support.

Pam, thanks. I went through all Dr Noyes tutorial. I also wrote Dr. Noyes and Dr. Millett a mail some days ago in order to ask if they knew some centre in Europe.
I feel I have little chance to get an answer.

For Rennschnecke: I agree the fracture came first to fix. But if I only knew there was a chance to incur in this side effct, I could have done some mild rehab to keep the knee in little motion.
But nothing was mentioned. It is my firs time with a broken leg and I had no idea about AF...sadly enough..

The second surgeon that I found (I changed of course and went to a well known OS) managed to understand the problem and he said this second surgery to remove the scar tissues went well in his opinion. But he acts as the problem is really minor. There is not a true awarness in this field.

Nevertheless, at 1 month from the second surgery - including daily rehab and home exercises- I am still with my knee bending 100-110 and extending 5.

The OS and the therapist say this is normal after such a long period immobilized. They believe the problem are the mussles and the tendons which are hard and not flexible.
My fear is of course that AF is againg there....


Decruz, I will send a private mail.

Thanks to all.
Logged

Offline Decruz

  • Forum Faithful
  • ****
  • Posts: 351
  • Liked: 0
Re: Arthrofibrosis in Italy
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2012, 09:21:35 AM »
As I said to you via e-mail, the right thing to do as soon as possible is to see a knee AF specialist or even maybe a couple of them to compare their feedback (days, not weeks or months).
Then you'll be sure you'll be in the hands of a doctor that knows AF for sure and nothing can be missed - this doesn't guarantee the total success (it depends case by case) but it's the key to try to recover.
Bye
Logged
Decruz

"Forward..."
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
 












support