The Evolving Landscape of Minimally Invasive Procedures in Rheumatic Musculoskeletal Diseases

Rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) present significant and persistent challenges to healthcare providers. These conditions can profoundly affect patients' well-being, functional capacity, and overall quality of life. Furthermore, RMDs often impose a considerable burden on families and society at large, with wide-reaching socio-economic implications and potential consequences for mental health.

There is a growing array of local techniques, specifically minimally invasive musculoskeletal procedures, most of them being ultrasound-guided, developed to address articular and soft tissue manifestations of rheumatic diseases. These interventions are expanding the therapeutic landscape, yet simultaneously challenging the existing knowledge and skillset of rheumatologists.

The administration of drugs or autologous products directly into articular or soft tissue sites offers distinct advantages compared to systemic delivery. These include reduced systemic exposure and associated adverse effects, enhanced local bioavailability, and, in some cases, lower overall costs. Despite these benefits, the effectiveness of certain intra-articular and soft tissue therapies remains a subject of debate. This uncertainty stems from limited data, methodological shortcomings, study heterogeneity, and a scarcity of high-quality evidence. Additionally, outcomes as reported by patients, such as pain relief and reduction in stiffness, are particularly susceptible to placebo effects, a phenomenon that is especially prominent with injectable treatments.

The primary objective of this research topic is to examine the underlying mechanisms of action, as well as the therapeutic efficacy and safety of minimally invasive musculoskeletal procedures, covering a diverse range of interventions designed to address musculoskeletal manifestations.

Conducting rigorous investigations into these therapies is essential, particularly as the demand for effective management strategies continues to rise. Such approaches must be tailored to the unique needs of individual patients, ensuring that treatment remains both patient-centred and clinically relevant.

To gather further insights into minimally invasive procedures for rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Ultrasound guidance, barbotage, and botulinum toxin applications
• Efficacy of corticosteroids, dry needling, and gene therapy
• Hyaluronic acid use, hydrodissection methods, and mesenchymal stem cell therapy
• Nerve blocks and ozone therapy in the musculoskeletal context
• Platelet-rich plasma, prolotherapy, and sclerotherapy
• Reviewing thermal ablation techniques and radiopharmaceutical applications
• Overview and analysis of existing clinical guidelines

We encourage submissions of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Clinical Trial, Case Report, Perspective, and Brief Research Report articles that present new data, perspectives, and advancements in the minimally invasive treatment of rheumatic musculoskeletal conditions, aiming to enhance patient-centred care and improve clinical outcomes.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review

Keywords: rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases, minimally invasive procedures, local drug delivery, therapeutic efficacy, clinical guidelines, ultrasound guidance

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.