CERAMICS, CELLS AND TISSUES. IMPLANTS FOR SPINE
Prefazione - Indice
Prefazione
One of the most serious problems
which arise with getting on in years, with the succession of working
strains, for consequences due to traumas, is that of discopathy, in
particular coming from squeezing of inter-vertebral material. Generally,
discopathy brings to interest
the nervous terminations which come from the spinal column. A lot of
problems then arise for the humans who are interested by this serious
problem which involves their deambulation capability, localised paralyses
and feelings of pain of various nature. All these problems are often
connected to the squash of nervous terminations and produce serious
diseases, inconveniences and reduction of working capability in the
affected subjects.
IRTEC-CNR of Faenza has taken part in an European BRITE-EURAM project
aiming to formulate prototypes of inter-vertebral ceramic spacers, utilisation
of which allows a restoration of the original natural gap between two
consecutive vertebras. In this way the problem of squashing of the nervous
terminations is in such a way solved. However, also a local firm (Fin
Ceramica Faenza Srl.), specialised in the production of biomedical devices,
has taken part in the same European project.
In this framework and in the ambit of the information diffusion and dissemination
of the proposed produced prototypes (under the aegis of the European Committee
deputed to the financing of the projects (BRITE-EURAM Contract n. BRE-CT94-966,
Project BE- 7598 "Injection moulded, functionally graded ceramics for
biomedical applications", 1994-1998) is here proposed a meeting in which
the matter on : "lmplants far Spine" is treated in depth.
The very delicate structure of the spine, the numerous vertebras so decisive
in sustaining the whole human body, the cartilaginous separating disks
which join them together, are all elements decisive to supply the necessary
elastic properties of the whole human body. An intervention on this structure
requires from surgeons not only exact knowledge of its nature, of its
forming and of its slow degrading in lime (especially for the implacable
transformations undergone by the tissue when it grows older), bui also
clear ideas on how to intervene when irreparable damage are formed for
illness and/or traumas.
Hence the need to suggest to surgeons what are the materials able to substitute
hard tissues, especially those which are considered the best and can grant
adaptability and restoration of biofunctionality in a way that is the
most similar as possible to the natural ones. All this must be carried
out following all official medical standards developed from the various
medical disciplines directly or indirectly involved, making, when necessary,
a critical comparison to restore the health of the spine.
This meeting having the title: "lmplants for Spine" is part of
a series of international meetings organised by IRTEC-CNR under the more
general title: "Ceramics, Cells and Tissues" sponsored by the Italian
National Research Council and carried out with the cooperation and under
the aegis of Italian and European institutions pertaining to the fields
of both medical and materials sciences. This series intends to present
each lime a specific matter of great interest and importance for the scientific
and social worlds to effect a critical consolidation of the human knowledge
and its diffusion.
The wish is that this meeting may bring an advancement of knowledge and
technical methods of surgical intervention by ascertaining at last that
ceramic materials have assumed a decisive and clear role in this field
as they had already demonstrated in other fields for many project of research
in recent years.
A very deep thank for the success of this 5th edition of this initiative
must be addressed to all lecturers who bave proposed professionally and
with great punctuality their experiences and their last knowledge about
this matter. On the other hand we are indebted to the national and intemational
committees for the accurate screening of all scientific documentation
and to firms, Universities and other Institutions ready to cooperate with
lectures.
A particular thank must be addressed to the Presidency of the Meeting
represented by:
- Prof Richard Coombs, prestigious representative of spine surgery with
his dever and shrewd dialectic, supported by high professionality and
reference point of the best English culture of the sector;
- Mrs. Naseem Theilgaard who has brought to the meeting ber rigorous and
matchless determination, her patience and that reliability which finds
its greatest expression in her concreteness of ideas and realisations.
Finally, a warm act of esteem to my colleague Dr. Adriano Krajewski who
was such a close collaboration in the preparation for the success of this
manifestation and a sincere thank to the secretary Mr. Francesco Montaleone
for bis diligence, commitment and scrupulous care.
Antonio Ravaglioli
Chairman
