Editorial The Role of Surgery in Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

The role of surgery in the management of arthritis begins with prevention, and in the case of osteoarthritis it is important to ensure fractures and injuries are managed appropriately to prevent post-traumatic degenerative changes in joint [1-3]. Pedersen et al. discuss acute osteochondral fractures in the lower extremities and provide an approach to the identification and treatment of these injuries. Chondral and osteochondral fractures of the lower extremities are important injuries because they can cause pain and dysfunction and often lead to osteoarthritis. These injuries can be misdiagnosed initially which may impact on the healing potential and result in poor long-term outcome. Their comprehensive review focuses on current pitfalls in diagnosing acute osteochondral lesions, potential investigative techniques to minimize diagnostic errors as well as surgical treatment options. Acute osteochondral fractures are frequently missed and can be identified more accurately with specific imaging techniques. A number of different methods can be used to fix these fractures but attention to early diagnosis is required to limit progression to osteoarthritis. These fractures are common with joint injuries and early diagnosis and treatment should lead to improved long term outcomes.