An interview with Michael Carmont, section editor for the surgery, traumatology, and rehabilitation section on sports traumatology research: acute, overuse and chronic problems, early return to play and long-term outcomes

What does the sports traumatology field involve? The discipline of sports traumatology broadly encompasses injuries sustained at all levels and in all aspects of a person’s life. Each level of training has different motivations and goals. For example, adolescent athletes have aspirations for the future but may not yet have reached adult development. However, elite athletes compete either at the top of their game or at a professional level, whereas recreational athletes participate and compete for personal ambition, the challenge involved, and the associated health benefits. All athletes are keen to have their injuries managed as quickly and effectively as they can be so that they may return to sports as soon as possible. However, sports surgeons need to be mindful of making decisions for the patient’s long term good rather than a short term, rapid return to play, fix. Primum-non-nocere.