17609 - Locomotor System Diseases (A)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of the basic medical assessment of the main pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, in particular: congenital deformities, growth, and degenerative pathologies of adulthood and old age. Students will be familiar with the diagnostic methods used to study these pathologies, the main conservative and surgical treatment options, and the principles of diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal trauma.

Course contents

Spinal pain

Upper limb pain (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand)

Hip pain

Knee pain

Ankle and foot pain

Inflammatory diseases of the bones and joints

Infectious diseases of the bones and joints

- Osteomyelitis
- Tuberculosis

Circulatory-ischemic diseases

- Osteochondrosis
- Osteonecrosis
- Algodystrophy

Congenital diseases

- Marfan syndrome
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Osteopetrosis
- Achondroplasia
- Muscular dystrophy
- Cervical rib
- Torticollis
- Spina bifida
- Congenital clubfoot

Growth disorders

- Scoliosis
- Kyphosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Epiphysiolysis
- Axial deviations of the knee
- Flat feet
- High arches

Neuromuscular disorders in children

- Cerebral palsy

Degenerative disorders

- Osteoarthritis
- Low back pain, lumbocruralgia, lumbosciatica, and herniated disc
- Neck pain and cervicobrachialgia
- Hallux valgus

Neoplastic disorders

- Bone and soft tissue neoplasms
- Benign bone tumors
- Malignant bone tumors
- Soft tissue tumors

Traumatology

- General information and fracture healing
- Fracture treatment
- Fracture complications
- Traumatic joint injuries and tendon injuries
- Acute shoulder dislocation
- Hip dislocation
- Vertebral fractures and dislocations

Readings/Bibliography

Giannini S.-Faldini C. “Manuale di ortopedia e traumatologia”, Ed. Minerva Medica

Teaching methods

In-person classes

Assessment methods

Oral examination

The final exam is an oral exam in which the student will be asked to discuss a topic taken from the program. During the interview, questions have to verify the degree of in-depth knowledge of the proposed topic and the other topics of the program, the critical ability to connect different knowledge to each other and the achievement of an organic understanding of the topics covered in class.


The exam will be considered passed if the student demonstrates sufficient knowledge in each topic.


The achievement of an organic vision of the topics addressed in class, combined with their critical contextualization, the demonstration of possession of an expressive command and specific language will be evaluated with marks of excellence. The final mark of the Integrated Course, of which this teaching is part, is the result of the weighted average between the individual modules.

Office hours

See the website of Cesare Faldini