KSSTA leadership update: Heartfelt thank you to Volker Musahl and very warm welcome to Robert Prill!

Abstract

The ongoing success of Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy (KSSTA) depends on scientific integrity, editing consistency and the dedicated efforts of individuals deeply committed to improving orthopaedic knowledge.

This editorial marks an important transition in the journal's leadership, reflecting both profound gratitude for past contributions and strong confidence in the future.

First and foremost, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to Volker for his outstanding service to KSSTA over many years. Volker Musahl (Figure 1) is one of the international authorities when it comes to reconstructive knee surgery. He holds the Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania Professorship at the University of Pittsburgh. Volker has decided to step down from his role as Deputy Editor-in-Chief to assume a new position as Deputy Editor at the Journal of ISAKOS. Throughout his tenure, he has been a key figure in shaping KSSTA, guided by a clear scientific vision, rigorous editorial judgement and an unwavering commitment to high methodological standards. His leadership has significantly strengthened the journal's international standing and fostered a culture of excellence, transparency and collaboration. We are deeply grateful for his contribution and are pleased that his expertise will continue to benefit the wider orthopaedic community [1, 3, 4, 6]. With his departure, KSSTA is not only losing a highly respected expert in reconstructive knee surgery but also a valued colleague and a dear friend.

The only constant in scientific life is the change. Change keeps us moving and fosters knowledge gain and innovation. Hence, we are delighted to welcome Robert Prill (Figure 2) in his new role as the new Deputy Editor-in-Chief of KSSTA. He has been serving the journal as associate editor for many years. Robert Prill brings an outstanding and highly complementary profile to the journal's leadership. With a strong academic background in rehabilitation science, physiotherapy and evidence-based medicine, he has consistently worked at the interface of surgery, rehabilitation and outcomes research. His scholarly contributions include systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical trials, consensus statements and methodological studies, all aimed at enhancing the clinical relevance, clarity and quality of orthopaedic research.

Robert currently holds several international leadership roles, including chairing the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) rehabilitation committee and rehabilitation consensus initiatives, contributing to global guideline development and implementation projects. Right now, he chairs together with Volker and others the European Union-United States (EU-US) Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rehabilitation Consensus, after the formal EU-US Meniscus Rehabilitation Consensus being the second multicontinental and multidisziplinär project facilitating strong collaboration between ESSKA, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy (AASPT) [11]. He has extensive editorial experience, served as Associate Editor and Section Editor at KSSTA as well as in other peer-reviewed journals. His dedication to methodological rigour, high reporting standards and interdisciplinary collaboration aligns seamlessly with KSSTA's mission and strategic direction [2, 5, 7-10, 12, 13].

Importantly, Robert has been a strong advocate for the integration of rehabilitation, evidence synthesis and patient-centred outcomes into orthopaedic research, which are becoming increasingly central to the journal's scope and identity. His appointment further strengthens KSSTA's position as a comprehensive platform encompassing the full continuum of musculoskeletal care, from innovative surgical techniques to rehabilitation and long-term outcomes.

We are confident that Robert Prill's expertise, enthusiasm and positive collaborative spirit will contribute significantly to the continued growth and scientific impact of KSSTA.

Looking ahead, KSSTA embraces the future with continuity, ambition and renewed momentum. We are deeply appreciative of Volker Musahl's remarkable legacy and genuinely excited about Robert Prill's new role within the journal.