Conflict of Interest

“Conflict of interest” refers to a situation in which one's professional judgment related to a primary consideration may be unduly influenced by a secondary consideration. Not uncommonly, these secondary considerations tend to be financial in nature. This fact, in itself, is not unethical, and, given the close involvement of orthopedic surgeons with many industry-driven innovations, conflicts of interest are omnipresent. Early acknowledgment and candid disclosure of this fact by the involved parties ensures transparency and enriches the audience's perspective of the products of collaborations. Comfort with this dictum minimizes the likelihood of one failing, either intentionally or unintentionally, to adequately report conflicts of interest and avoids the untoward consequences of public scrutiny of actions taken in the presence of competing considerations.