This volume is colour coded for various sections and thus makes it easy to browse through to the area of interest. As Dr. Fischgrund points out to the reader, the goal is not only to review basic knowledge of orthopaedics but to highlight important and practical advances in musculoskeletal care. This book is aptly called the reference point for the vast orthopaedic knowledge base and attempts to identify new trends in patient management. A wonderful combination of basic sciences and foundations of research coupled with advances in cutting-edge technologies makes this text an ideal companion for surgeons doing the boards in America or the FRCS (Orth.) in UK or Europe. As pointed out this book is NOT intended to educate the sub specialists in the latest trends and techniques in a particular field.
Section one deals rightly with the general principles of orthopaedics. Professionalism and Ethics, bone repair and cartilage injuries find mention here. The section on musculoskeletal imaging is particularly interesting. Medical care of athletes will find many takers due to the rising incidence of sports injuries from overuse. Some routine yet relevant activities find a mention here like Blood management and Thromboembolism management and work related illnesses including workman’s compensation. The newer sections on evidence-based orthopaedics and Biostatistics are useful for the student preparing for the boards.
Section 2 on systemic disorders covers metabolic bone diseases and orthopaedic oncology. This is a refreshing review for the surgeon in practice who does not have the time or the inclination to revisit conventional texts. Pain management is thinly treated and would have benefited from detailing. Section 3 deals with upper extremity incorporating the shoulder and elbow injuries in the throwing athlete. Unfortunately some rare and wonderful conditions find mention here. Basic shoulder trauma, shoulder instability and shoulder reconstructions are superbly detailed. Elbow and Forearm trauma make for monotonous reading and I could not find much of current interest or advancements. Carpal instability and compression syndromes are succinctly outlined in hand and wrist surgery sections.
Section 4 deals with lower extremity incorporating a major chunk of common traumatic conditions. Hip fractures, pelvic reconstruction and arthroplasty are covered in fair details. Of particular interest in this section is the spectrum of the soft tissue injuries about the knee, a common presentation in clinical practice. Knee reconstruction and arthroplasty could have, in my opinion been safely omitted. Commendable in content yet too expansive a topic for this publication this topic this topic suffers from trying to offer too many things in too small a space. Foot and ankle reconstruction is covered systematically and makes for a speedy review especially for surgeons who are not foot surgery enthusiasts.
Section 5 covers spine and is a refreshing revision of the nuances of intervertebral disk development, disc physiology and aetiology of disc degeneration. Cervical and Lumbar disk degeneration have been well treated and the advantages and advances in the use of Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) gives a good picture of the current technologies on offer. Treatment of spinal infections is often a grey zone for most orthopaedic surgeons and this section gives us some practical tips and current management protocols. Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis lack depth. Newer technologies in Spine Surgery is a fascinating section and gives the reader a quick update on the disk replacement options currently marketed.
Section 6 deals with paediatrics and unfortunately is too trauma heavy with dysplasias and connective tissue disorders regaled to the background. A delight for the paediatric orthopaedist, this section covers in great depth the entire spectrum of extremity fractures and spinal injuries. Beautifully illustrated with radiographs and line diagrams, this section makes for easy and light reading. Skeletal dysplasias, connective tissue disorders and genetic abnormalities are covered in a mathematical order and are of certain help for an exam review.
840 pages worth of content does make this volume a heavy load to carry around but definitely saves you the effort to carry ten texts to acquire all the information contained in this up-to-date concise edition. A hard bound cover would have been ideal as I found my companion getting a little dog-eared after I had been through it. Well illustrated, fairly comprehensive and easy to read style for ready reference makes this volume an ideal knowledge manual for the surgeon and the student alike.
