Elastofibroma dorsi is a rare benign unencapsulated tumour characterized by a elastic fibres proliferation in a collagen stroma with adipose tissue. Lesion is often asymptomatic, monolateral and localized at the tip of the scapular. It is slow-growing. It mainly occurs in adult females. At now some controversies concerning diagnosis and modality of treatment are reported in the literature. Authors report clinicopathological features of elastofibroma dorsi analysing 8 cases from 2001 to 2005, and revise the literature. Seven females and 1 adult male were observed, often dedicated to manual labour. Six symptomatic patients underwent marginal excision of tumour, and the remaining asymptomatic 2 patients were only followed. No local recurrences were observed in operated patients.

On the basis of these data Authors evidenced limits of different instrumental methodologies of diagnosis (ultasonography, computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) and suggested a algorithm for diagnosis and treatment remarking that marginal excision constitutes effective treatment of symptomatic patients.

Aim: Unstable lateral fractures of the proximal femur (type A2 and A3 of AO classiþcation) present a controversial problem for surgical treatment, due to the difþculty to achieve an adequate mechanically stable bone-device system, so to allow an early weight-bearing. To improve the stability of bone-device complex, a trochanteric stabilizing plate (TSP) has been introduced. The properties of TSP is to avoid shaft medialization in the postoperative. The aim of our study was report results of surgical treatment of unstable trochanteric fractures using a dynamic hip screws in association with TSP. Methods: From January 2000 to March 2002, 51 patients affected by this kind of fractures (type A2 of the AO classiþcation 37 cases and type A3 14 cases) were treated with the association of dynamic hip screw and trochanteric stabilizing plate. Results: The average time that patients spent in the hospital was 7.8 days for the group A2,2, 8.5 days for the group A2,3, 9.9 days for A3,1 and 10.3 days for A3,2. The average healing time was 6 weeks for A2 fractures and 7.2 weeks for the A3. According to the HSS at 6 months for the group A2,2 the average score was 85,5 for the group A2,3 was 81,7 for the group A3,1 was 74,4 and for the group A3,2 was 70,1. The main postoperative complications were 3 superþcial infection of surgical wound, 3 deep vein trombosis and 1 pulmonary embolism. Conclusions: Our series show that this device, although it interferes with trochanteric structures, is a real aid for the dynamic hip screw system in the treatment of unstable lateral fractures of proximal femur due to the possibility of stabilizing the great trochanter and the lateral cortex in order to avoid the medialization forces of the femoral shaft.