Preface

Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of joint pain in adults. It is a growing problem due to population aging and the increasing prevalence of obesity in the world. Since the dawn of humanity, people have suffered from pain and difficulty walking caused by trauma, tumors, infections, inflammatory diseases, or genetic problems. Joint diseases culminate in the progressive destruction of the joints, a condition known as secondary osteoarthritis. This leads to enormous individual and family suffering, in addition to social overload. Only about 50 years ago did a successful surgical solution called replacement arthroplasty emerge for the treatment of the most serious and debilitating cases. This surgery is particularly effective for osteoarthritis in the hips. Although arthroplasty has made it possible to approach complex cases previously considered as contraindications, there is still a long way to go.

In this book, renowned international authors present their experiences, research results, and proposals for innovative solutions for the improvement and advancement of hip and knee arthroplasty. Chapters discuss non-surgical treatment of osteoarthritis as well.

I want to acknowledge the support and patience of Author Service Manager Miss Sara Tikel at IntechOpen for her assistance. I also thank my co-editors Dr. Hechmi Toumi and Dr. Eric Lespessailles. Finally, I thank the contributing authors for their excellent chapters. Without them, this book would not exist. Happy reading!

> **Alessandro Rozim Zorzi** Medical School, São Leopoldo Mandic, Campinas, Brazil

**Hechmi Toumi and Eric Lespessailles** University of Orléans, Orléans, France

**1**

Section 1

General Aspects
