This issue of the KSSTA journal has a special section on concurrent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and cartilage injuries. These two conditions are very common problems and the treatment of which represents a significant financial burden not only on healthcare systems internationally but also on society in general. As resources in healthcare are not unlimited, we, as orthopedic surgeons, must be conscious of the cost of surgery and rehabilitation we provide for our patients. But, it is not simply a measure of the monetary cost that it is important, it is the cost to benefit ratio that gives us a better impression of the overall value of the treatment we provide. As the British saying goes do we run the risk of being ‘penny-wise and pound-foolish’ by trying to cut corners on the initial cost of treatment only to pay dearly in terms of lost productivity and chronic disability in the long-run?
