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Dr Enrico Carità at the “Congresso Ibero Latinoamericano” of Hand Surgery in Brasil

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The Clinica San Francesco of Verona, GHC Group, confirms itself as international reference point also in hand surgery field.

On last 24th March 2022 Dr Enrico Carità, orthopaedic surgeon of Hand, Wrist and Elbow Surgery Unit, attended the “XIII° Congresso Ibero Latinoamericano” of Hand Surgery held in Maceió, Brasil.

The event brought together the best hand surgery specialists in the world with a focus on Italy as a guest country, involving the best specialists of SICM (Italian Hand Surgery Society).

Dr Carità’s speech focused on the rhizarthrosis and specifically on micrografts of adipose tissues in the treatment of disease initial stages.

On March 2021 Dr Carità jointly with Drs Alberto Donadelli and Mara Laterza performed the first operations in Italy of wrist ligament reconstruction and implantation of prosthesis for rhizarthrosis with the help of augmented reality, that is through 3D viewers, visualizing in this way the operating field and patient’s information.

Thanks to the hand, wrist and elbow specialized orthopaedic surgeons, the Clinic on July 2021 received an important award becoming reference centre of the above mentioned SICM, the Italian Hand Surgery Society.

Madrid visits Clinica San Francesco

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The Clinica San Francesco, Garofalo Healthcare Group, confirms itself as international reference centre for robotic orthopaedic surgery training.

On Tuesday 22nd February 2022 the Clinic hosted Dr Alberto Francés Borrego, Hip Unit director of Hospital Clínico Universitario San Carlos of Madrid (Spain), which attended a hip replacement, performed with Mako robot by Dr Piergiuseppe Perazzini, director of Orthopaedic and Traumatology Functional Unit, as well as European pioneer for robotic hip and knee surgery, and even among the first to use the last upgrade 4.0 of this cutting-edge procedure.

“The robotic surgery in the total hip arthroplasty is becoming a standard technique and, in fact, offers many advantages, related to the improvement of implants positioning. For a surgeon is always positive the exchange of ideas and the chance to see the operation procedures in other hospitals” – Dr Borrego commented at the end of training.

The Clinica San Francesco is Veneto Region reference centre for robotic orthopaedic surgery as well as European Robotic Orthopaedic Centre (CORE) with an intense training activity for surgeons from all over the Europe.

Hip arthroscopy: what it is and when can be used

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In some people a widespread pain to hips may happen and sometimes is the signal of diseases, such as pubalgia, sciatica or hip arthrosis.

Only an orthopaedic specialized examination can determine the disease nature and necessary therapy.

In case of arthrosis, surgery may also be necessary.

The hip arthrosis is a condition that brings to a degeneration of coxofemoral joint cartilage, the point in which the femur is articulated with acetabulum, hip cavity intended to accomodate the femoral head.

This degenerative process involves pain and difficulty in movements with disabling consequences.

The hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery procedure, as performed with latest technologies acting within the joints without affecting the same.

However, not all patients are good candidates for this preventive intervention.

The arthrosis, indeed, cannot be at an advanced stage and, often, it is not easy to identify this kind of disease in a initial phase, because usually confused with other diseases.

The operation itself is quick and minimally invasive, but is followed by a rehabilitation phase that requires some months, during which the patient will learn the exercises for joint and muscle recovery, to carry out together with the physiotherapist and autonomously at home.

Clinica San Francesco in the Newsweek World’s Best Hospitals 2021 ranking

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Another important outcome for the Clinica San Francesco.

Even for 2021, the Clinic, GHC (Garofalo Healthcare Group) centre of excellence and international reference point for robotic orthopaedic surgery, re-entered in the ranking of 2000 best hospitals in the world published by the famous American magazine “Newsweek”, rising to the 45th place – gaining six positions compared to the previous year – among the best Italian health facilities, out of a total of 108.

The ranking, realized by the American company ‘Statista’, examines the facilities from 25 countries, including, besides Italy, also United States, Germany and Canada. The research was based on three kind of sources: 1) opinion of experts – more than 74,000 among physicians, hospital directors and healthcare professionals participated in an international online survey -; 2) outcomes of patient’s satisfaction surveys and 3) KPI (Key Performance Indicators), the indicators that measure the hospital performances. The Clinic – first in Europe (and outside the USA) to introduce the robotic surgery for partial knee replacement and total hip replacement, respectively in 2011 and 2012, and first in Italy for total knee replacement, in 2017, thanks to the staff of Dr Piergiuseppe Perazzini, director of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Functional Unit – stood out for innovative approach in patient care and implementation of latest generation technologies.

Even in this side the Clinic was among the first centres in Europe to apply the Mako robot upgrade 4.0, becoming furthermore an European reference point for robotic hand and elbow surgery with innovative operations of metacarpal trapezius prosthesis, necessary in case of advanced arthrosis or rizarthrosis, performed by the Hand and Elbow Surgery staff. The Clinica San Francesco carries out an intense training activity for surgeons from all over Europe and since 2013 is European Centre for Robotic Orthopaedics (CORE – Centro di Ortopedia Robotica Europeo), since 2019 reference centre of Veneto Region for robotic orthopaedic surgery, and since 2021 reference centre for the Italian Hand Surgery Society (SICM – Società Italiana di Chirurgia della Mano).

«This is a great recognition for a smal facility as the Clinica San Francesco that is in a better position than other Italian hospitals, considered of excellence, and has managed to improve in just one year, despite the difficulties linked to the pandemic. The ranking – Dr Perazzini comments – expresses not only parameters communicated by the facility, but above all a patient’s approval rating, whose evaluation is based not only on successful outcome of operation, but considers also the favourable environment, care received by nursing staff and shows how quality and innovation are the objectives to pursue».

See the ranking

HEART PREVENTION: WHAT IT MEANS AND WHEN TO START

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Preventing heart disease means implementing all the necessary measures to reduce as much as possible the cardiovascular diseases incidence, especially the atherosclerotic ones.

The prevention is essential: these diseases, in particular the heart attack and stroke, indeed, often arise suddenly. Furthermore, they are not only high mortality pathologies, but also cause of high disability. Then, intervening in time means to lengthen the life of patient as well as to bring a marked improvement to its quality.

The cardiology specialist will assess the patient’s overall cardiovascular risk and will decide a customized therapeutic plan.

But what are the risk factors that predispose the patient to these diseases?

These factors are divided between modifiable conditions, on which it is possible to intervene, as smoke, arterial hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, sedentariness, and not modifiable factors, as race, age, gender and possible genetic predisposition.

In some patients several risk factors may be present at the same time, greatly increasing the possibility of one of these diseases.

If on the one hand it is essential to undergo regular controls at a specialist, who will also prescribe the necessary examinations, it is even changing the lifestyle.

For a good cardiovascular health, indeed, it is essential to often do sports, even of slight intensity, and follow a proper diet, low in animal saturated fats and simple carbohydrates, rich instead of fish, fiber and complex carbohydrates. Smoking should be abolutely avoided and alcohol consumption should be limited.

The European guidelines on cardiovascular prevention, finally, advise men to undergo the first examinations around 40 years old, to women about 10 years later, thanks to the so-called “hormone umbrella” that protects until the menopause.

November, the month of prevention and awareness on male diseases

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As every year, November is the month dedicated to prevention of male diseases, firstly the prostate cancer. The initiative aims to sensitise people on the need to become more aware of these diseases and the importance of periodic controls.

The prostate takes on an important function in producing essential seminal fluid to preserve male fertility. Among most common diseases than may affect this organ, there are prostatites, prostatic hypertrophy and, exactly, prostatic adenocarcinoma.

An early urologic diagnosis is crucial to recognize any alterations and intervene promptly with appropriate therapy.

The problems related to prostate may arise in men of any age with a higher incidence from the age of 50. In case of familiarity to carcinoma, it is recommended to start to prevent even before, from 40 years-old on.

The control of prostate must be carried out regularly by an urologist, which will assess all risk factors and the patient’s clinical history.

The specialized physician, in addition to examining the patient, will assess the need for a PSA (Prostate specific antigen) dosage analysis, the protein produced by prostate cells whose quantities denounce possible alterations of this gland.

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Clinica San Francesco at the Italian Orthopaedics and Traumatology Society Congress 2021

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The Clinica San Francesco confirms itself as reference centre in the Italian robotic orthopaedic landscape.

Dr Piergiuseppe Perazzini, Director of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Functional Unit and pioneer of robotic orthopaedic surgery in Europe, attended the Italian Orthopaedics and Traumatology Society Congress, held from 4thto 7th November 2021 in Rome, the most important Italian event in this field with the most famous experts from all over Italy. Dr Perazzini, during his session explained his own long experience in robotic surgery.

He learnt the innovative procedure in the USA, exactly at the Robotic Surgery Center of Mako firm in Fort Lauderdale and the orthopaedic clinic directed by Dr. Jon Dounchis in Naples, both in Florida. The procedure minimizes the error margin in placement of prosthesis, main cause of instability and dislocations, complications that make another operation necessary. The use of robot allows the surgeon to reach a high geometric precision, permitting a correct biomechanic working of implant. The skill and experience of Dr Perazzini (2011 – first in Europe to introduce the robotic partial knee replacement; 2012 – first in Europe to introduce the robotic total hip replacement; 2017 – first in Italy to introduce the robotic total knee replacement) made him the top expert in the field to which Italian and European colleagues turn to learn in detailed the robotic procedure through technical laboratories, live surgery and lectures.

In October 2020 the orthopaedic team of the Clinic reached the number of 1000 robotic hip replacements read here. A fame that allowed the Clinic to become in 2013 CORE (European Robotic Orthopaedic Centre) and in 2019 was recognized by the Veneto Region as reference facility for the robotic orthopaedic surgery.

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Doctors Donadelli and Carità at the IACES 2021 in Madrid

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The Clinica San Francesco is Italian (and not only) reference point for elbow prosthetic and reconstructive surgery.

The orthopaedic surgeons, specialized in hand and elbow surgery, Drs Alberto Donadelli and Enrico Carità attended the IACES 2021 (International Advanced Course on Elbow Surgery) held on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 November 2021 in Madrid (Spain). It is a very important event of this field that involves every two years the world leading experts in elbow surgery to discuss and expose the latest clinical news, case studies and treatment modalities of this delicate joint. The course was accredited by the EACCME (European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education).

The Clinic Elbow Surgery team treats all elbow diseases, from the most common to the most delicate and particular cases. Thanks to the experience gained over the years, and investments in research and instrumentation, the facility today – as mentioned – is an Italian and international model for the treatment of the major diseases of elbow and upper limb, making it a scientific and technological cutting-edge reality in elbow field. In July 2021 Clinica San Francesco has become Italian Hand Surgery Society (SICM) Centre.

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Digital event “The Clinica San Francesco of Verona celebrates ten years of Mako robot activity”

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The Clinica San Francesco of Verona, the capital of robotic surgery.

On Tuesday 31st August 2021 was held the digital event “The Clinica San Francesco of Verona celebrates ten years of Mako robot activity”, sponsored by the Verona’s Medical Association and the Università degli Studi of Verona, and organized on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the first prosthetic orthopaedic surgery operation with the Mako system performed in Italy by Dr Piergiuseppe Perazzini, director of Orthopaedic and Traumatology Functional Unit.

The online meeting was attended by the major Italian and American experts of robotic orthopaedic surgery and the organizations that today have a decisive role for the sector international community, explaining their own experience, the most advanced innovations, benefits and future prospects. The high-technology robotic platform for the Mako prosthetic surgery was developed in the USA by the firm Stryker and introduced to Italy in 2011 by AB Medica; currently the Mako robotic systems installed worldwide are more than 1000, of which 30 in Italy (one of the first European countries for number of robotic platforms installed).

Thanks to the specific planning carried out for every patient on the CAT scan and the haptic technology that allows to remove only the necessary bone tissue, the Mako system permits to achieve a precision in the prothesis placing which was not achievable before by traditional surgery. On a total of over 450.000 surgeries performed until today (31st August 2021) worldwide with Mako robotic procedure, in Italy and Europe the primacy belongs to Dr Perazzini who since 2011 has performed with his team 2759 total and partial knee replacements and 1215 hip replacements with Mako robot, creating – in 2013 – the European Robotic Orthopaedic Centre (CORE – Centro di Ortopedia Robotica Europeo), an European reference robotic surgery school inside the Clinica San Francesco.

“Dr Perazzini and his team are reference point for the training of our professionals in this procedure. Our organizational model patient-centered requires us to assure a high quality of services and constant and consistent investments in most advanced technologies and state-of-the-art instrumentation” Maria Laura Garofalo, Garofalo Health Care’s CEO declared.

According to Robert C. Cohen – guest of the event – President of Digital, Robotics and Enabling Technology of Stryker firm, in the next few years the trend will be to assure a “continuum of care”. The technology is planning and developing in this direction creating real digital ecosystems, where the patient and surgeon are in constant contact through apps able to follow all phases – pre, intra and post-operative.

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF GLAUCOMA

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the world there are 55 million people with glaucoma. The glaucoma represents the second cause of blindness and the first with irreversible nature. It is estimated that in Italy the glaucoma affects one million people of which only half of them knows it. The eye doctor, Dr Pierluigi Piccoli of Clinica San Francesco explained to us what it is all about, the symptoms and suggested treatments.

What is glaucoma and how does manifest itself?

The definition gathers a set of eye diseases that have in common the progressive damage of optic nerve, able to determine changes of visual field until blindness. In most cases the disease is practically asymptomatic and this particularly dangerous, may be diagnosed just by an eye examination that must be carried out regularly from 40 years of age.

What are the risk factors?

The main risk factor is certainly the high intraocular pressure, but does not detect in itself the disease, then there are the familiarity, myopia, diabetes, other eye diseases, arterial hypotension that provokes a reduced perfusion of fibers and the age. Indeed, the probability of glaucoma increases with aging.

Are there different types of glaucoma?

The most common form is the open-angle glaucoma, asymptomatic. But in 20% of cases this is closed-angle glaucoma, that is a form with clear symptoms as pain, reduction of visual acuity and serious general discomfort. Other more rare forms are the normal pressure and secondary glaucoma.

What treatments are indicated?

The aim of treatment is to stop or at least slow down the progression of damage: the lost function, unfortunately, is not recoverable, the glaucomatous damage is not reversible and for this reason the prevention is essential. The intervention is on intraocular pressure and initial therapy is medical, indeed one or more eye drops to instill one or more times a day are prescribed and if the therapy is scrupulously respected the damaged is significantly reduced. Is possible to enrich the therapy also with neuroprotectors. It even possible to carry out laser treatments as iridotomy and trabeculoplasty, and in more complex cases with surgery.