Editorial: Advances in non-union diagnostics, therapy and the understanding of its pathogenesis: current concepts from bench to bedside

This editorial discusses the challenges in treating non-unions, which are fractures that fail to heal properly. It highlights the importance of understanding the complex biological processes involved in bone healing, including the role of the immune system. The editorial introduces the concept of osteoimmunology, which explores the interactions between bone cells and immune cells, and its potential to revolutionize the treatment of failed fracture healing. Finally, the editorial discusses the use of novel diagnostic tools, such as indocyanine green fluorescence angiography, to improve intraoperative decision-making during non-union surgery.

• 1
  Interferon-gamma (IFN-y) signaling plays a key role in orchestrating immunological functions and serves an anabolic function in osseous biology, leading to osteoblastic activation.
• 2
  Single-cell RNA sequencing studies confirm the importance of osteoimmunology by revealing interactions between immune cells and osteoblastic lineage cells, highlighting the crosstalk between these cells.
• 3
  Indocyanine green fluorescence (ICG) angiography is a promising diagnostic tool for evaluating the patency of vascular pedicles and perfusion of bone grafts in scaphoid non-union surgery.