The continuing need to publish laboratory science in clinical journals

Over the past decade the BJO has continued to emphasise the importance of basic science findings, and thus generated a section dedicated to “Laboratory science” for this purpose—but why, and should we continue? There is always some deliberation when wearing a clinical hat. Questions arise such as is it science for science's sake? And although we learn, do we move on? We are very much in the era of evidence based medicine1 and, as such, we are compelled to deliver an optimal service with maximal therapeutic benefit. Although this undoubtedly is what we should be doing and what the public expects (at least in the short term), there is an unarguable necessity to understand the underlying molecular and cellular biology and pathology to improve what are, mostly, unsatisfactory therapies. Indeed from what evidence and data do we generate such evidence based practices? TheBJO has always made concerted efforts to deliver science to both their scientific peers and the …