39470 - Pathologies of the Lower Limb, Pelvic Girdle and Lumbosacral Rachis

Academic Year 2023/2024

  • Moduli: Stefano Zaffagnini (Modulo 1) Giuseppe Bianchi (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Orthopaedics Techniques (cod. 5915)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module the student will know the basic notions of anatomy and biomechanics of the lower limb, of anatomy of the lumbosacral spine and of the pelvic girdle and the degenerative pathology of the lower limb, of the pelvic girdle and of the lumbosacral spine. The studenti will also understand the medical, physical and surgical therapies connected to the pathologies of the lower limb, the pelvic girdle and the lumbosacral spine.

Thanks to the laboratory hours, the student will understand the basic semiotics related to degenerative, post-traumatic and oncological pathologies and has learned pathognomonic tests for the evaluation of the most frequent pathologies concerning the lower limb and the lumbosacral spine.

The student will also learn of orthopedic devices designed to compensate, modify and correct orthopedic deformities related to pathologies of the lower limb, lumbosacral spine and pelvic girdle.

Readings/Bibliography

Ortopedia e traumatologia - di P. Randelli e A. Della Valle (PICCIN).

Assessment methods

The final exam consists of a written or oral exam in which the student will be asked to discuss a topic taken from the program. As part of the test, questions will also be asked to verify the degree of deepening of the knowledge of the proposed topic and of the other topics of the program, the critical ability to link different knowledge together and the achievement of an organic understanding of the topics covered in class.
The exam will be considered passed if the student will demonstrate sufficient knowledge in each topic.


The achievement by the student of an organic vision of the topics covered in class, together with their critical use, the ability to make connections, the demonstration of possession of an expressive mastery and specific language will be evaluated with marks of excellence. The final mark of the Integrated Course, of which this teaching is a part, is the result of the weighted average between the individual modules. The attribution of honors is a discretionary faculty of the Commission.

The exam in its entire components or modules must be taken within the same session. This means that all modules of the integrated course must be taken in the same month. If it is not done in this way, the student will have to take all the modules of the integrated course again.

Definition of the final grade:

Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical skills that emerge only with the help of the teacher, expression in overall correct language → 18-19;
Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course and autonomous analysis skills only on purely executive issues, expression in correct language → 20-24;
Knowledge of a large number of topics addressed in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology → 25-29;
Substantially exhaustive preparation on the topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis and connections, full mastery of the specific terminology and ability to argue and self-reflect → 30-30L.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Zaffagnini

See the website of Giuseppe Bianchi