In Volume 9 of JCOR, an issue is dedicated to arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. 8 current concept review articles summarize the symposium that was held in Helsinki during the European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society’s congress in 2012. The best experts in this field present their knowledge in a compact form.

Besides this main focus, there are 5 original articles on various subjects. Among these the following interesting questions are raised:

• In this article, it asks whether percutaneous proximal gracilis tenotomy is as effective and safe the open procedure in cerebral palsy
• Tension band plating for guiding growth in axis deviations and leg length discrepancies is a very common procedure. Does physical therapy prevent post-operative delay in return of function following tension-band plating? This question is answered here.
• Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva is a rare disorder characterized by episodes of acute pain and heterotopic ossification of soft tissue, and progressively limited physical function and social participation. How limited is quality of life in these patients? This is the subject of investigation in the article, “Quality of life of patients with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive.”
  
• Tuberculosis of the hip joint fortunately is rare. However, if it occurs, significant destruction can result. This research investigates whether there is functional improvement after hip arthroscopy in such cases.

In JCOR’s most recent issue, there is a current concepts review on EOS® biplanar X-ray imaging. 4 original articles and 2 technical notes are published and finally all (English) abstracts of the presentations of the 29th Annual Meeting of the German Speaking Children’s Orthopaedics Society that took place in Frankfurt in April 2015 are published. Among the original articles, these interesting questions are raised:

• Matar et al. asks the question whether the Ponseti method for treating clubfoot associated with arthrogryposis is effective. They examined 10 children with 17 arthrogrypotic clubfeet, with an average follow-up of 5.8 years.
• This article examines whether a mini-open technique for Achillestenotomy in infants with clubfoot is safer than the percutaneous technique.
• Another issue investigates if arthroscopic osteochondroplasty in patients with mild slipped capital femoral epiphysis after in situfixation is a useful method.
• A video-based gait assessment was carried out in response to “Femoral derotation osteotomy with multilevel soft tissue procedures in children with cerebral palsy: Does it improve gait quality?”

The following technical notes describe new methods:

• Teplenky and Mekki describe an interesting new technique of a pertrochanteric osteotomy anddistraction femoral neck lengthening for treatment of proximal hip ischemic deformities in children.
• This issue describes a technique for pediatric chest wall reconstruction using custom-designed titanium implants.

We hope that our readers will be stimulated by reading these articles on new research!

This feature by Dr. Hefti was first published in March 2016’s issue of European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society’s newsletter. EPOS is the affiliated society of the Journal of Children’s Orthopaedics.