Medical Journal Websites Include Online-Only Content Plus Intriguing and Unique Features

Arthroscopy; Arthroscopy Techniques; and Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation (ASMAR) websites include content that is available only online. Every time we visit the websites, we discover new content and educational features worth exploring. From meeting abstracts to multimedia, and from research pearls collections to world maps indicating the reach of our journals, a tour of our websites is enthralling. You can even take a bite of a hamburger.     

What You Don't Know Until It's Too Late! Arthroscopy Podcasts Could Change Your Practice

Podcasts provide a follow-up on articles from Arthroscopy, Arthroscopy Techniques, and Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation. Readers could learn a great deal by interviewing the authors of scientific studies, and Podcasters do exactly that.     

AANA20: The 2020 Annual Meeting of the Arthroscopy Association of North America

Arthroscopy, Arthroscopy Techniques, and Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation will be in attendance in force at the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA20). Program highlights and innovations include surgery simulcasts, “Great Debates,” award-winning papers, Feature Lectures, and sessions glimpsing what is On the Horizon—and perhaps over and beyond.     

Health Research Titles and Guidelines Improve Impact and Article Acceptance Rates

The peer-reviewed publication of Arthroscopy, Arthroscopy Techniques, and Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation is the result of a team effort. Our assistant editors-in-chief are a notable part of this team who are specifically credited for, among other contributions, leadership in organizing, creating, and publishing a series of pearls, templates, and checklists for health research authors as well as reviewers, editors, and readers. These articles and tools are available under drop-down menus on the Arthroscopy journal home page. Our series of research pearls concludes with 2 articles on the weighty impact of journal article titles and on instruments to improve research publication quality.     

Arthroscopy and Musculoskeletal Biologics

Orthopaedic biologics holds great promise. Absent peer-reviewed clinical musculoskeletal research, orthobiologics indications and treatment recommendations will remain opaque. In a Call for Papers, Arthroscopy; Arthroscopy Techniques; and Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation editors invite authors to submit clinical musculoskeletal biologics original scientific research, and technical notes with video. Each year, the top articles will be awarded inclusion in an annual Biologics Special Issue. Future investigators and current readers could follow the science while being mindful of the regulatory environment.     

My Kind of Town (Chicago Is): Content Collections Optimize Learning Related to the 2018 AANA Annual Meeting

The 2018 Arthroscopy Association of North America Annual Meeting represents an opportunity to deepen one's understanding of a wide variety of topics. Arthroscopy journal readers have diverse practices and interests, and the meeting is designed to accommodate individual needs. The constructivist learning theory provides that scholars learn in many different ways. Thus, to enrich your learning experience, selected recently published Arthroscopy articles are suggested to supplement material presented at the meeting. The articles are collated on our web site in Content Collections, to allow meeting participants to prepare and to allow those unable to attend to remain engaged. We offer suggestions and encourage readers to customize their own learning experience.     

The 2022 Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Match Leaves Many Qualified Candidates Unmatched

Orthopaedic surgery has always been a popular and competitive field, but in 2022, approximately 40% of applicants for orthopaedic surgery residency positions did not successfully match, despite their immense talent and commitment. This is a failure of the system, not the medical student applicants, and there is no evident solution. In fact, the problem is expected to get worse, as many of the approximately 600 unmatched 2022 applicants are expected to apply again next year, further flooding the pool. Reflecting on the results of the 2022 Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Match, we feel incredibly fortunate and humbled to serve as orthopaedic surgeons with a subspecialty interest in Arthroscopy, Arthroscopy Techniques, and Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation.     

Proper Evaluation of Bone Loss Determines Shoulder Instability Indications and Outcomes

One of the most-read articles published in the history of Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery is “Evolving Concept of Bipolar Bone Loss and the Hill-Sachs Lesion: From ‘Engaging/Non-Engaging’ Lesion to ‘On-Track/Off-Track’ Lesion” by Di Giacomo, Itoi, and Burkhart. This 2014 article is a modern classic and has inspired a plethora of recent research as well as infographics published in Arthroscopy. We now understand, to the great benefit of patients, that proper evaluation of bone loss determines shoulder instability surgical indications and outcomes.     

Internet and Social Media Contribute to Medical Research Journal Growth

In 2010, our editorial team wrote about the Internet’s inarguable role in overloading information on our readers. In this editorial, we reflect on insights gained, mostly in the past decade, regarding the Internet and social media. Medical and surgical information online is easy to obtain, but it varies from platform to platform, is low in quality and reliability, and overestimates the public’s ability to decipher the information. Physicians do not use social media enough, or well. Social media can engage patients and can inform patients about the quality of medical and surgical information online. Physicians, themselves, can provide reliable information that informs patients and eases their minds. Physician-authors can use social media to develop communities with shared interests in research; members of these communities can post research findings and highlight the publications in which they find them. Discussion of research online increases the likelihood that it will be cited. It is no surprise that the Internet and social media have contributed to the growth of Arthroscopy; Arthroscopy Techniques; and Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation.     

AANA23 Confirms There is Still a Place for Face-To-Face Meetings

AANA23, or the AANA Annual Meeting, set a high-water mark for our society and its members. Congratulations to all who planned and executed an exceptional educational meeting. Demonstrating that diversity continues to be front of mind, one of the first events of the meeting was the Diversity Session. Recognizing the topic’s importance, next month in Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation (ASMAR), Arthroscopy’s companion online journal, we will publish our second annual special issue devoted to rehabilitation and return to sport, also with a focus on diversity as it relates to sports medicine. The Biologic Association held a comprehensive and clinically relevant 2-day meeting in conjunction with and following AANA23. AANA23 set the stage for a greatly anticipated AANA24 to be held in Boston from May 9 to 11, 2024.     

Editorial Commentary: A Model for Shoulder Rotator Cuff Repair and for Basic Science Investigations

“Breaking the fourth wall” is a theater convention where the narrator or character speaks directly to the audience. As an Assistant Editor-in-Chief, as I comment on a recent basic science study investigating rotator cuff repair, I break the fourth wall and articulate areas of basic science research excellence that align with the vision that we hold for our journal. Inclusion of a powerful video strengthens the submission. We prefer to publish clinical videos in our companion journal, Arthroscopy Techniques, and encourage basic science video submissions to Arthroscopy. Basic science research requires step-by-tedious-step analogous to climbing a mountain. Establishment of a murine rotator cuff repair model was rigorous and research intensive, biomechanically, radiographically, histologically, and genetically documented, a huge step toward the bone-to-tendon healing research summit. This research results in a model for both rotator cuff repair and the pinnacle of quality, basic science research.     

Auld Lang Syne: A New Year Brings Awards and a New Cover

“Auld Lang Syne,” a traditional poem used to welcome the New Year, asks rhetorically, “Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?” At Arthroscopy, the answer is a resounding no. We view January as an opportunity to celebrate the abundance and excellence of research published in Arthroscopy. This year, we have decided to spread our applause, approval, and appreciation to recognize both award winners and runners-up, whose distinction in research epitomizes the bounty that is Arthroscopy. In addition, we proudly introduce a new cover.     

The 2019 Arthroscopy Association of North America Traveling Fellowship—Los Gallos: New Friends on an Old Town Road

We came in with high expectations, yet the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) Traveling Fellowship far exceeded them. The 4 traveling fellows came from different backgrounds, different parts of North America, and different practice settings, including an independent private practice, a hybrid private-academic practice, the military, and academia. We were lucky to have been ushered along the way by our godfather, the distinguished John Richmond, M.D., Past-President of AANA and Associate Editor Emeritus of Arthroscopy, who was gracious enough to give his time to the expedition. Over the course of the journey, this gang came together quickly and forged relationships that will last a lifetime. We are extremely grateful to AANA for the privilege and will cherish the memories for years to come.     

Introducing the Orthoregeneration Network Foundation Review Articles: Guiding Tissue Regeneration and Biologic Therapies Into Practice

In this issue of Arthroscopy, readers will find the first of what are designed to be a series of peer-reviewed Orthoregeneration Network (ON) Foundation review articles. The ON Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international foundation dedicated to promoting research and education in the field of orthopaedic tissue regeneration. ON defines “Orthoregeneration … as a solution for orthopaedic conditions that harnesses the benefits of biology to improve healing, reduce pain, improve function, and optimally, provide an environment for tissue regeneration” making use of treatments, including “drugs, surgical intervention, scaffolds, biologics as a product of cells, and physical and electromagnetic stimuli.” The article is accessible and could be of interest to all readers, including clinicians, as well as basic scientists and researchers. It brings us great pleasure to collaborate with the ON Foundation and introduce the ON Foundation Reviews to the readers of Arthroscopy.     

Arthroscopy Journal at 35

As we commence our 35th year, we acknowledge our team and launch 2 new initiatives: Infographics and Arthroscopy Journal Podcasts.     

Letters to the Editor Highlight Current Controversies

In 2018, Letters to the Editor of Arthroscopy were heated and helped point out the broiling topics in our field including ankle arthroscopy distraction technique versus no-distraction and dorsiflexion, knee anterolateral ligament reconstruction versus lateral extraarticular tenodesis, hip labral primary repair versus primary reconstruction, and shoulder stabilization technique cost-effectiveness.     

Stop Overtreatment,Overdiagnosis, and the Medicalization of “Normal” to Improve Health Care Outcomes. Hippocrasy: The Book

In the 21st century, physician adherence to the Hippocratic Oath “to treat the ill to the best of one’s ability” may require improving our entire health care system. As a result of a wide range of problems, including but not limited to overtreatment, overdiagnosis, inattention to warmth and sympathy, and medicalizing normal, as well failure to attend to prevention, treating the problem, and recognizing what is not known, efficient care delivery and best outcomes may be compromised. A recent book, cleverly titled Hippocrasy: How Doctors Are Betraying Their Oath, courageously calls out evidence of hypocrisy in the health care status quo and, most importantly, includes proposals suggesting how health care might be improved. While the book would benefit from more balance and less bias, improving patient outcomes is a worthwhile goal that readers of Arthroscopy inevitably share.     

Orthopaedic Musculoskeletal Biologics Research Impacts Patient Care: The First Annual Arthroscopy Orthobiologics Virtual Special Issue

Orthobiologics can modify symptoms and improve healing in a variety of musculoskeletal conditions as a part of office-based care or as an adjunct to surgery. Orthobiologics harness the benefits of naturally derived blood components, autologous tissue, and growth factors to reduce inflammation and optimize the host-healing environment. The Arthroscopy family of journals seeks to positively influence evidence-based clinical decision-making by publishing peer-reviewed biologics research. This special issue contains recent influential articles strategically chosen to positively impact patient care.     

Hip Arthroscopy Complications Are Rare,but There Is Room for Improvement

Complications are agonizing and leave feelings of inadequacy, insufficiency, or ineptitude. For these and other reasons, complications are not frequently reported in the literature. But reporting of complications is not only cathartic, it can be illuminating. Once out in the daylight, complications can be categorized, quantified, parsed, analyzed, and dissected with the scientific method to yield insight to enable us to prevent complications that we can avoid. Technical innovations have demonstrated ability to solve current problems. Standardizing the reporting of complications allows comparability between centers. Better data lead to better analysis and may decrease the complication rate. Recent investigations published in Arthroscopy and elsewhere have improved our understanding of hip arthroscopy complications, making the procedure safer, more effective, and of higher value.     

Tools to Improve Scientific Research

The mission of Arthroscopy is to provide authoritative, current, peer-reviewed clinical and basic science information regarding arthroscopic and related surgery. In addition, with a goal of improving the quality of the scientific research published in our journal and others, we develop and publish research pearls, statistical guides, article checklists and templates, and related tools. In sum, this effort allows our cadre of editors, reviewers, authors, and readers to strive to improve in our ability to create and critically analyze medical literature of the greatest merit. Our ultimate ambition is to publish more perfect articles with conclusions on which readers can rely.