Francesco Oliva

Prof. Dr. Francesco Oliva

Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

22Years (2005-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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6 February 2013 in The American Journal of Sports Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Nicola MaffulliNicola Maffulli
Nicola Maffulli
ABAngelo Del Buono
Angelo Del Buono
GMGayle D. Maffulli
Gayle D. Maffulli
Francesco OlivaFrancesco Oliva
Francesco Oliva
VTVittorino Testa
Vittorino Testa
VDVincenzo Denaro
Vincenzo Denaro
Lateral ankle sprains may result in pain and disability in the short term, decreased sport activity and early retirement from sports in the mid term, and secondary injuries and development of early osteoarthritis to the ankle in the long term. This combined approach to chronic lateral instability and intra-articular lesions of the ankle is safe and in the long term maintains mechanical stability, functional ability, and a good level of sport activity. Case series; Level of evidence, 4. We present the long-term outcomes of 42 athletes who underwent ankle arthroscopy and anterior talofibular Broström repair for management of chronic lateral ankle instability. We assessed in all patients preoperative and postoperative anterior drawer test and side-to-side differences, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and Kaikkonen grading scales. Patients were asked about return to sport and level of activity. Patients were also assessed for development of degenerative changes to the ankle, and preoperative versus postoperative findings were compared. Thirty-eight patients were reviewed at an average of 8.7 years (range, 5-13 years) after surgery; 4 patients were lost to follow-up. At the last follow-up, patients were significantly improved for ankle laxity, AOFAS scores, and Kaikkonen scales. The mean AOFAS score improved from 51 (range, 32-71) to 90 (range, 67-100), and the mean Kaikkonen score improved from 45 (range, 30-70) to 90 (range, 65-100). According to outcome criteria set preoperatively, there were 8 failures by the AOFAS score and 9 by the Kaikkonen score. Twenty-two (58%) patients practiced sport at the preinjury level, 6 (16%) had changed to lower levels but were still active in less demanding sports (cycling and tennis), and 10 (26%) had abandoned active sport participation although they still were physically active. Six of these patients did not feel safe with their ankle because of the occurrence of new episodes of ankle instability. Of the 27 patients who had no evidence of degenerative changes preoperatively, 8 patients (30%) had radiographic signs of degenerative changes (5 grade I and 3 grade II) of the ankle; 4 of the 11 patients (11%) with preexisting grade I changes remained unchanged, and 7 patients (18%) had progressed to grade II. No correlation was found between osteoarthritis and status of sport activity (P = .72). Combined Broström repair and ankle arthroscopy are safe and allow most patients to return to preinjury daily and sport activities.

23 August 2012 in BMC Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Francesco OlivaFrancesco Oliva
Francesco Oliva
AVAlessio Giai Via
Alessio Giai Via
Nicola MaffulliNicola Maffulli
Nicola Maffulli
In calcific tendinopathy (CT), calcium deposits in the substance of the tendon, with chronic activity-related pain, tenderness, localized edema and various degrees of decreased range of motion. CT is particularly common in the rotator cuff, and supraspinatus, Achilles and patellar tendons. The presence of calcific deposits may worsen the clinical manifestations of tendinopathy with an increase in rupture rate, slower recovery times and a higher frequency of post-operative complications. The aetiopathogenesis of CT is still controversial, but seems to be the result of an active cell-mediated process and a localized attempt of the tendon to compensate the original decreased stiffness. Tendon healing includes many sequential processes, and disturbances at different stages of healing may lead to different combinations of histopathological changes, diverting the normal healing processes to an abnormal pathway. In this review, we discuss the theories of pathogenesis behind CT. Better understanding of the pathogenesis is essential for development of effective treatment modalities and for improvement of clinical outcomes.

1 January 2016 in Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Johnny PaduloJohnny Padulo
Johnny Padulo
Francesco OlivaFrancesco Oliva
Francesco Oliva
AFAntonio Frizziero
Antonio Frizziero
NMNicola Maffulli
Nicola Maffulli
The proper design and implementation of a study as well as a balanced and well-supported evaluation and interpretation of its main findings are of crucial importance when reporting and disseminating research. Also accountability, funding acknowledgement and adequately declaring any conflict of interest play a major role in science. Since the Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal (MLTJ) is committed to the highest scientific and ethical standards, we encourage all Authors to take into account and to comply, as much as possible, to the contents and issues discussed in this official editorial. This could be useful for improving the quality of the manuscripts, as well as to stimulate interest and debate and to promote constructive change, reflecting upon uses and misuses within our disciplines belonging to the field of "Clinical and Sport - Science Research".

1 June 2009 in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Review
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
NFNicholas A. Ferran
Nicholas A. Ferran
Francesco OlivaFrancesco Oliva
Francesco Oliva
NMNicola Maffulli
Nicola Maffulli
Acute ankle sprains are common, and if inadequately treated may result in chronic instability. Lateral ankle injuries are most common, with deltoid injuries rare and associated with ankle fractures/dislocation. Medial ankle instability is rare. Functional management of acute lateral ankle sprains is the treatment of choice, with acute ligament repair reserved for athletes. Chronic lateral ankle instability is initially managed conservatively, however, failure of rehabilitation is an indication for surgical management. Nonanatomic tenodesis reconstructions have poor long-term results, sacrifice peroneal tendons, and disrupt normal ankle and hindfoot biomechanics. Anatomic repair of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments is recommended when the quality of the ruptured ligaments permits. Anatomic reconstruction with autograft or allograft should be performed when ligaments are attenuated. The role of arthroscopic reconstruction is evolving. Ankle arthroscopy should be performed at the time of repair or reconstruction and should address any other intra-articular causes of pain.

18 May 2020 in Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LCLucio Cipollaro
Lucio Cipollaro
LGLorenzo Giordano
Lorenzo Giordano
Johnny PaduloJohnny Padulo
Johnny Padulo
Francesco OlivaFrancesco Oliva
Francesco Oliva
Nicola MaffulliNicola Maffulli
Nicola Maffulli
The novel SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) became a pandemic on 11 March 2020. The epidemiological picture is constantly evolving, and on 13 May, 4,170,424 cases and 287,399 confirmed deaths have been reported (WHO Report). People with COVID-19 infection may show several symptoms, including fever, cough, nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, myalgia, fatigue, arthralgia, headache, diarrhea, and rarely arthritis [1]. COVID-19 clinical features range from asymptomatic patients to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ dysfunction [2, 3]. Influenza symptoms are associated with a cascade of inflammatory mediators. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in plasma and upper respiratory secretions directly correlate with the magnitude of viral replication, fever, and respiratory and systemic symptoms, including musculoskeletal clinical manifestations [4, 5] Musculoskeletal symptoms such as fatigue, myalgia and arthralgia are common COVID-19 symptoms, but their prevalence has not yet been systematically investigated [6, 7]. We collected the published clinical data of the past 5 months to ascertain the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and epidemiological characteristics published worldwide in COVID-19 patients. Data were tabulated using Microsoft Excel TM 2020 V.16.34. The value was showed as mean ± SD. Student t test was used to reveal musculoskeletal symptoms between the total sample. To assess the incidence for each clinical variable, frequency analysis was performed. Regression analysis (R 2) was used to examine correlations between the total sample and musculoskeletal symptoms extracted. The level of significant was set at p < 0.05.

16 October 2012
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
AVAlessio Giai Via
Alessio Giai Via
Antonio FrizzieroAntonio Frizziero
Antonio Frizziero
Francesco OlivaFrancesco Oliva
Francesco Oliva