JTO - September 2015

Volume 3 Issue 3

From the Editor

As we approach the end of the year from a JTO point of view; it means it’s the Congress issue. I will leave it to others to talk about the serious stuff, Colin’s final contribution at the end of his presidential year follows. However, I feel I should comment on the amazing energy of the BOA’s staff. There is a buzz in the office but this is only matched by the extraordinary amount of work I see being done by colleagues all over the country to provide a strong clinical structure (pages 16 and 18), trying to make education fit for purpose (page 42) and an ethos that is determined to take MSK research in the direction designed to push patients into treatment pathways that work (page 26).

I am grateful to Ian Stockley, our Guest Editor, for commissioning a set of peer-reviewed articles on the major problem of infection (page 50). It is thought-provoking and illustrates how important this subject is going to be in the era of growing resistance to antibiotics. The importance of controlling and recognising complications to the cost of the service and to the patient and society is alluded to elsewhere (page 22) needless to say my Deputy Editor, Ananda Nanu, dealt with that article in isolation, but it makes its point!

There is a little theme of costs running through this issue. Peter Smitham’s article in the Trainee Section shows that the cost of being a trainee is not cheap (page 40).

I am delighted to see the enthusiasm for the thought process of planning care reflected in the article by the incoming OTS president, Bob Handley (page 64).

We constantly need to review professional issues that affect our practices. The “Duty of Candour” article (page 46) is a must-read and, in an era where our practices and responsibilities maybe changing, Steve Hepple’s practical guide to insurance issues (page 34) is one that you should keep.

It is sad to see so many Myths and Legends of orthopaedics passing on; each with stories behind them that we can recall and smile about (pages 68 and 69).

How patients see us and how we should be aware of all of what we are dealing with on their and their families’ behalf is an important part of what we do (pages 28 and 42).

So, what is the JTO? I must admit I am one of those people who scans journals and reads the bits that I want and wonder why they bother with the rest. I pick up coffee-top magazines and look at the pretty pictures. JTO aspires to be something different, it is really by you for you. It wants, as the BOA does, to promote joined-up thinking, hence our front page illustration. Don’t forget that some articles are reproduced in full on the website. PS – this might be Ananda’s last issue. Rumour has it he’s been promoted, hope the new guy’s as much fun.

Ian Winson – BOA Vice President Elect