| Sumario: | The musculoskeletal system comprises the bones and joints between them, and the muscles that act on the joints to produce the movement that allows us to care for ourselves and others, work and enjoy recreation. It is subject to a wide range of disease processes and these are common: nearly 150 million Europeans, or 30% of the population, experienced a musculoskeletal disorder in 2019. The burden of musculoskeletal disease is huge and is growing. Over the age of 65, more than half the population is affected, as the joints are prone to 'wear and tear' with ageing, causing osteoarthritis (OA) and spinal pain. Classically in Europe, the more rare diseases caused by inflammatory joint disease are managed by Rheumatologists, often with advanced new drugs. The much larger burden of degenerative joint diseases are treated surgically and non-surgically by Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeons, who also repair traumatic damage to the musculoskeletal system.
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