Traumatic acute or chronic tendon injuries are a wide clinical problem in modern society, resulting in important economic burden to the health system and poor quality of life in patients. Due to the low cellularity and vascularity of tendon tissue the repair process is slow and inefficient, resulting in mechanically, structurally, and functionally inferior tissue.

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are promising alternatives to the natural healing process for tendon repair, especially in the reconstruction of large damaged tissues. The aim of TRITONE project is to develop a smart, bioactive implantable 3D printed scaffold, able to reproduce the structural and functional properties of human tendon, using FDA approved materials and starting from MSC and their precursor, MPC cell mixtures from human donors.

Total cohort selected in the last 12 months was divided in group 1 (N=20) of subjects with tendon injury and group 2 (N=20) of healthy subject. Groups were profiled and age and gender matched. Inclusion criteria were age>18 years and presence of informed consent. Ongoing pregnancy, antihypertensive treatment, cardiovascular diseases, ongoing treatment with anti-aggregants, acetylsalicylic-acid or lithium and age<18 years were exclusion criteria.

Firstly, we defined clinical, biological, nutritional life style and genetic profile of the cohort. The deficiency of certain nutrients and sex hormonal differences were correlated with tendon-injured patients. It was established the optimal amount of MPC/MSC human cell (collected from different patients during femoral neck osteotomy). Finally, most suitable biomaterials for tendon regeneration and polymer tendon-like structure were identified. Hyaluronic acid, chemical surface and soft-molecular imprinting (SOFT-MI) was used to functionalize the scaffold.

These preliminary results are promising. It will be necessary to enroll many more patients to identify genetic status connected with the onset of tendinopathy. The functional and structural characterization of smart bioactive tendon in dynamic environment will represent the next project step.

Sternal resection is commonly performed for primary and metastatic chest wall tumours involving the sternum or the ribs near the sternum and, in case of wide resections, it is necessary to restore the stability of the chest wall. We analyze our experience with emphasis on surgical management and survival. From 2001 to 2007, 16 patients underwent surgical resection of the sternum for malignant lesions: 10 (62.5%) primary lesions (chondorsarcoma n=8; osteosarcoma n=2) and 6 (37.5%) secondary lesions (4 local recurrence from breast cancer and 2 metastases). We performed 12 partial resections (resected area from 65 to 20 %), 2 subtotal resections (about 90% of total area) and 1 total resection. Chest wall stability was obtained by prosthetic material, rigid and non rigid, and muscolar flaps. As non rigid material we used a polytetrafluoroethylene patch (Gore-tex Dual Mesh Plus) while replacement after total sternectomy was performed using a new rigid system of mould-able titanium connecting bars and rib clips (Strasbourg Thoracic Osteosyntheses System, Medxpert, GMbH). Prosthetic material was combined in 3 cases with a latissimus dorsi muscolar flap, in 1 case with a vertical rectus abdominis muscolar flap, in 12 with a pectoralis major flap. There was no perioperative mortality or significant morbidity. All patients were extubated within 24 hours after operation. At a mean follow-up of 44.1 months (range 82–14), 5 years actuarial survival for primary tumours was 85%, while 3 years actuarial survival after resection of secondary tumours was 39% (median 20,5 months). In case of primary lesion wide resection with tumour-free margins is necessary to minimize local recurrence and to contribute to long-term survival; reconstruction with a rigid system composed of mould-able titanium bars and rib clips allows to plan extensive demolition minimizing the risk of chest wall instability. In metastatic disease surgery can provide good palliation, although survival is poor.