The most important tool in the diagnosis and choice of treatment of orthopaedic disorders is medical history taking (anamnesis). Good medical history taking often leads to the correct diagnosis in a significant number of patients. The physical examination should further support this preliminary diagnosis, but the importance of a good medical history cannot be emphasised enough. Diagnostic tests (laboratory studies or imaging techniques such as X-rays) only come last in diagnostic cascade. The choice of treatment is based on the severity of the symptoms, but also on professional and personal settings. The burden of the treatment and the chance of a successful treatment must also be taken into account. This is a delicate weighing process, guided by the increasing number of evidence-based guidelines or appropriate use recommendations.
