Official journal of the European Society of Sports Traumatology Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) Few other areas of orthopedic surgery and traumatology have undergone such a dramatic evolution in the last 10 years as knee surgery arthroscopy and sports traumatology. The goal of this European journal is to publish papers about innovative knee surgery sports trauma surgery and arthroscopy. Each issue features a series of peer-reviewed articles that deal with diagnosis and management and with basic research. Each issue also contains at least one review article about an important clinical problem. Case presentations or short notes about technical innovations are also accepted for publication. The articles cover all aspects of knee surgery and all types of sports trauma; in addition epidemiology diagnosis treatment and prevention and all types of arthroscopy (not only the knee but also the shoulder elbow wrist hip ankle etc.) are addressed. Articles on new diagnostic techniques such as MRI and ultrasound and high-quality articles about the biomechanics of joints muscles and tendons are included. Although this is largely a clinical journal it is also open to basic research with clinical relevance. Because the journal is supported by a distinguished European Editorial Board assisted by an international Advisory Board you can be assured that the journal maintains the highest standards. Reports of animal experiments must state that the "Principles of laboratory animal care" (NIH publication No. 86-23 revised 1985) were followed as well as specific national laws (e.g. the current version of the German Law on the Protection of Animals) where applicable. The editor reserves the right to reject manuscripts that do not comply with the above-mentioned requirements. The author will be held responsible for false statements or for failure to fulfil the above-mentioned requirements.