Recent Advances and Developments in the Management of Soft Tissue Injuries

Although most attention is given to bones in trauma and orthopaedics, soft tissues form a crucial component of the musculoskeletal system. Soft tissue injuries can occur with fractures and without and include a wide and heterogeneous range of injuries. In this issue we cover a range of these topics including tendon and ligament injuries around the knee, wrist and spine with a relevant emphasis on sports injuries. We also discuss recent tissue engineering developments and preclinical studies in dealing with these difficult injuries. We also look at the use of prophylactic antibiotics in preventing infection of traumatic injuries, the current evidence for the management and soft tissue debridement of open fractures, and compartment syndrome.