- Email: [email protected]
Keyguide to information sources in paramedical sciences
The Foor (1992) 1, 213-214 ‘CJ 1992 Longman Croup
The Management
UK Ltd
been an increase in awareness of the need to prevent or intervene at an early stage in diabetic foot problems: this volume has therefore appeared at an opportune time and is strongly recommended.
of the Diabetic Foot
Irwin Faris Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1991, 2nd Edition. 195 pages, illustrated. Price g15.95. ISBN 0443 023158.
A. J. M. Boulton The recognition and management of diabetic foot disorders requires the input of many specialties including orthopaedic and vascular surgeons, diabetologists, chiropodists, specialist nurses, orthotists, physical therapists and others. I therefore have the greatest respect and admiration for Irwin Faris who has tried almost single-handedly to address the many aspects of diabetic foot disorders in a useful single volume. The author is certainly well-qualified to write on this subject as he has wide research and clinical experience in the management of diabetic foot problems both in the United Kingdom and Australia. The book opens with a useful review of the history of diabetes and foot problems and is followed by a summary chapter on mechanisms for the development of foot lesions. I must admit to being surprised at the lack of mention of dry skin and callous formation under the heading of autonomic neuropathy which most feel to be an important aetiopathogenetic mechanism. The strengths of this book lie in the sections on diagnosis and management of diabetic foot problems. The weaker chapters are on mechanisms of development of vascular disease and neuropathy; the references are a little dated and discussion on certain areas is lacking. What about insulin and atherogenesis? What about vascular theories of the aetiology of diabetic neuropathy? I found the chapters of mechanical factors, prevention and the clinical features in management of diabetic foot lesions particularly useful and well written, Useful algorithms for diagnosis and management are to be found in these chapters and there is both common sense and practical approach to these issues. Professor Faris is correctly skeptical about the use of vasodilator substances in the diabetic foot but there is no discussion on the recently introduced prostacyclin analogues. Whereas there is an excellent discussion on vascular surgery of the diabetic leg, there is little comment on the use of angioplasty. The book is well illustrated throughout with excellent clinical pictures and radiographs. In summary this is a useful volume and can be recommended to any health care professional with an interest in the diabetic foot. There has recently
Reuder in Medicine University of Manchester
Keyguide Sciences
to
Information
Sources
Edited by John F. Hewlett Manse11 Publishing Ltd., London ISBN o-7201-2057-8.
in Paramedical
1990. Price g45.00.
In 1933 the British Medical Association approved a register of medical auxiliaries. In 1960 an Act defined them as professions supplementary to medicine, and now some call them paramedics. Terminology is confused and the six professions covered (chiropody, dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, radiography and speech therapy) have yet to achieve a relationship with medicine comparable with that of dentistry. Orthoptists and Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers, covered by the 1960 Act, are not included, but speech therapy is. The book is for librarians and will be welcomed by the professions who have sometimes felt neglected by libraries; the foreword considers ‘this volume may become a significant milestone in the development of the paramedical professions . . and will be an important contribution to practice. research and education in these fields.’ It also provides a concise introduction to the professions for doctors and nurses. First chapters cover professional needs, finding the literature and current awareness. Each profession has a chapter, with a brief history, comments on the periodicals, books, libraries and organisations. In part II, there are chapters on general sources and bibliographies for each profession. Finally, there is a valuable section of selected organisations. A useful feature is a linking, by numbers in square brackets, of the text with items in the bibliography or the list of organizations. The index is not complete and is at first confusing as references are to item number, except where page numbers are given. As a first attempt it is to be highly commended, its deficiencies (inevitable in a multi-author text on six very different professions) can be addressed in the second edition. The sections on chiropody will be of 213
214 The Foot
interest to readers of The Foot, although it will not clear up medical confusion about the use in the UK of ‘chiropodist’ by some, ‘podiatrist’ by others, and then those who are ‘chiropodist-podiatrist’. ‘Podiatry’ is not etymologically the correct term, although it is preferred in several countries. The statement is made that ‘the term podiatry is exclusively used in the USA, and was introduced to emphasise the difference between fully trained practitioners and those who had merely undertaken a
correspondence or other short course . . . and the public are probably aware of the difference. British chiropodists are now thinking on the same lines.’ Not so! When the USA changed, they already had a closed profession. La For-et should be Laforest. His 1781 book, Paris, laid the foundation for chiropodial literature. J. C. Dagnall
The Management
UK Ltd
been an increase in awareness of the need to prevent or intervene at an early stage in diabetic foot problems: this volume has therefore appeared at an opportune time and is strongly recommended.
of the Diabetic Foot
Irwin Faris Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1991, 2nd Edition. 195 pages, illustrated. Price g15.95. ISBN 0443 023158.
A. J. M. Boulton The recognition and management of diabetic foot disorders requires the input of many specialties including orthopaedic and vascular surgeons, diabetologists, chiropodists, specialist nurses, orthotists, physical therapists and others. I therefore have the greatest respect and admiration for Irwin Faris who has tried almost single-handedly to address the many aspects of diabetic foot disorders in a useful single volume. The author is certainly well-qualified to write on this subject as he has wide research and clinical experience in the management of diabetic foot problems both in the United Kingdom and Australia. The book opens with a useful review of the history of diabetes and foot problems and is followed by a summary chapter on mechanisms for the development of foot lesions. I must admit to being surprised at the lack of mention of dry skin and callous formation under the heading of autonomic neuropathy which most feel to be an important aetiopathogenetic mechanism. The strengths of this book lie in the sections on diagnosis and management of diabetic foot problems. The weaker chapters are on mechanisms of development of vascular disease and neuropathy; the references are a little dated and discussion on certain areas is lacking. What about insulin and atherogenesis? What about vascular theories of the aetiology of diabetic neuropathy? I found the chapters of mechanical factors, prevention and the clinical features in management of diabetic foot lesions particularly useful and well written, Useful algorithms for diagnosis and management are to be found in these chapters and there is both common sense and practical approach to these issues. Professor Faris is correctly skeptical about the use of vasodilator substances in the diabetic foot but there is no discussion on the recently introduced prostacyclin analogues. Whereas there is an excellent discussion on vascular surgery of the diabetic leg, there is little comment on the use of angioplasty. The book is well illustrated throughout with excellent clinical pictures and radiographs. In summary this is a useful volume and can be recommended to any health care professional with an interest in the diabetic foot. There has recently
Reuder in Medicine University of Manchester
Keyguide Sciences
to
Information
Sources
Edited by John F. Hewlett Manse11 Publishing Ltd., London ISBN o-7201-2057-8.
in Paramedical
1990. Price g45.00.
In 1933 the British Medical Association approved a register of medical auxiliaries. In 1960 an Act defined them as professions supplementary to medicine, and now some call them paramedics. Terminology is confused and the six professions covered (chiropody, dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, radiography and speech therapy) have yet to achieve a relationship with medicine comparable with that of dentistry. Orthoptists and Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers, covered by the 1960 Act, are not included, but speech therapy is. The book is for librarians and will be welcomed by the professions who have sometimes felt neglected by libraries; the foreword considers ‘this volume may become a significant milestone in the development of the paramedical professions . . and will be an important contribution to practice. research and education in these fields.’ It also provides a concise introduction to the professions for doctors and nurses. First chapters cover professional needs, finding the literature and current awareness. Each profession has a chapter, with a brief history, comments on the periodicals, books, libraries and organisations. In part II, there are chapters on general sources and bibliographies for each profession. Finally, there is a valuable section of selected organisations. A useful feature is a linking, by numbers in square brackets, of the text with items in the bibliography or the list of organizations. The index is not complete and is at first confusing as references are to item number, except where page numbers are given. As a first attempt it is to be highly commended, its deficiencies (inevitable in a multi-author text on six very different professions) can be addressed in the second edition. The sections on chiropody will be of 213
214 The Foot
interest to readers of The Foot, although it will not clear up medical confusion about the use in the UK of ‘chiropodist’ by some, ‘podiatrist’ by others, and then those who are ‘chiropodist-podiatrist’. ‘Podiatry’ is not etymologically the correct term, although it is preferred in several countries. The statement is made that ‘the term podiatry is exclusively used in the USA, and was introduced to emphasise the difference between fully trained practitioners and those who had merely undertaken a
correspondence or other short course . . . and the public are probably aware of the difference. British chiropodists are now thinking on the same lines.’ Not so! When the USA changed, they already had a closed profession. La For-et should be Laforest. His 1781 book, Paris, laid the foundation for chiropodial literature. J. C. Dagnall