BOOK REVIEWS

Orthopaedic Practice
Edited by PM Yeoman and DM Spengler

Orthopaedic Practice
Edited by PM Yeoman and DM Spengler
Butterworth-Heinemann
£95.00, ISBN 0750616245

This is a collection of essays on some of the controversial topics in orthopaedic surgery. The approach is broadly general with chapters on paediatric orthopaedics, trauma, rheumatoid arthritis and other major areas of orthopaedic interest. Anatomical boundaries have been largely ignored, with a chapter on knee arthroscopy interposed between the chapters on trauma. Overall, the authors have achieved a good compendium of contemporary orthopaedics, well illustrated and adequately indexed. The kernel of the book for most readers will be the chapters on brachial plexus injuries, shock and the section on rheumatoid arthritis.

Forty contributors from the USA and Europe, cover 32 topics and their contributions range from the didactic to the discursive, as might be expected. The rheumatology section is well covered with chapters on osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. A host of other topics are also dealt with, in an equally comprehensive manner, including osteoporosis, flexor tendon surgery, rotator cuff injury, club foot and a chapter on problem solving in orthopaedics. The book concludes with chapters on limb salvage for primary bone tumours and chemotherapy for bone sarcoma.

While hoping to attract a junior readership, no concessions have been made in offering guidance to a beginner for selection of various treatments. If the authors are to reach the proposed target, further thought needs to be given to the presentation of the information in the book. For example, some information is of an advanced level (physics and technology of bone mineral content measurement) and probably not of great interest to house officers - the intended audience, as mentioned in the preface.

There are a few typographical errors in the text. Some tables are not clear, e.g table 2.5 on page 14 (whether operations are percentages or actual numbers) and on page 423, in the text µt and µb are replaced by Mt and Mb. In spite of these trivial criticisms, this book provides valuable information on some of the most debatable topics in contemporary orthopaedics.

It is certainly an essential purchase for the departmental library. Orthopaedic trainees at registrar level and above will also need to consult other major textbooks on the subject. The book is expensive at £95 but is beautifully produced and would be helpful for a general practitioner or orthopaedic trainee at year 3-4 level.

M.A. Wajid, Victoria Hospital, Blackpool

A History of Surgery
Harold Ellis
Greenwich Medical Media
ISBN 18411100234

Harold Ellis’long-standing interest in the history of the art and science of surgery is well known and the publication of his history of surgery will have been awaited eagerly. In his preface, Professor Ellis ‘confesses’ to having allowed his personal heroes and interests to creep heavily into the text and illustrations and apologises for wandering off here and there to describe the characteristics and accomplishments of those surgeons that he has come to admire. Potential readers can be reassured; it is just this personal touch which makes for such a lively and readable account and there is a superb balance between the author’s own descriptions and the use of quotations and contemporary accounts.

The work begins with coverage of surgery in pre-historic times and ends with a glimpse into the future. An excellent chapter is devoted to the advent of anaesthesia and antisepsis and another to the birth of modern surgery in the period extending from the time of Lister to the First World War. Surgery of warfare receives special coverage. Six chapters are each devoted to special areas of surgery (orthopaedic surgery, breast tumours, cutting for stone, thyroid and parathyroid, thoracic and vascular surgery, organ transplantation).

Some minor criticisms may serve to give the impression that this reviewer has not lost all objectivity and avoid his praise appearing to be fulsome. Seen from north of the border and with tongue in cheek, there might be slightly too little coverage of James IV and too much of Henry VIII. On the other hand, Glaswegians will be pleased by the detailed discussion of the contribution of Peter Lowe, and any grumbles from Edinburgh will be instantly silenced by the coverage devoted to that city’s contribution to the advancement of surgery. Scots will be among the first to appreciate the extensive use of the historical material available in the Royal College of Surgeons of England and various London hospitals. Inevitably, not every daguerreotype, photograph, painting and line drawing is reproduced with the clarity that one would wish, but in general the book is plentifully and well-illustrated in a way which enhances readability Harold Ellis writes extremely well and has the ability to breathe life into the history of surgery. Surgeons will be cheered by this book and reassured by his optimism (and in particular his reassurance that surgeons of the coming century will not have to join the dole queue). I had not appreciated that there were only two public statues to surgeons in the United Kingdom (Lister and John Hunter), but this book will serve as a fitting monument to another great surgical enthusiast and teacher. It is a very readable, authoritative and, at times, amusing account of the history of our craft and it is to be greatly recommended.

Sir David Carter , University of Edinburgh