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Management of pain in the hand and wrist
BOOK REVIEW Management of pain in the hand and wrist. Edited by C.B. Wynn Parry. New York: Churchill Livingston, 1991: 173 pp, $75.00. This book, one of a series devoted to the hand and upper limb, is divided into 11 chapters. The first three chapters present superb reviews of research topics of the physiology and pharmacology of pain. These chapters have been written by Wall, Roberts, Kramis, Ochoa, Marchettini, and Kline. Each topic is concise, well written, and authoritative in nature. These three chapters provide an excellent review for all medical specialists, including physicians who specialize in hand surgery. The remaining chapters are devoted to selected clinical aspects of hand and arm pain. Schott reviews the etiology of chronic pain resulting from lesions of the brain, spinal cord, and nerve roots. Minimal attention is given to treatment of pain from these conditions. Fisk and Zancolli provide two chapters that describe diseases of the bones, joints, and tendons and their management. Wynn Parry reviews painful conditions related to nerve injury. Conolly devotes a chapter to the management of neuromas in the hand. Siegfried presents his extensive experience with electrical stimulation of the spinal cord and brain and its relationship to painful conditions.
760
THE JOURNAL
OF HAND SURGERY
Nashold provides a cogent discussion of phantom and avulsion pain and reviews DREZ lesions. The final chapter in this book, by Powell, reviews the management of cancer pain. This chapter is particularly brief and is devoted primarily to the use of percutaneous cordotomy in the treatment of pain. New literature does not support this particular intervention in favor of more aggressive use of opiates. In general, the book is very well written and multidisciplinary in its approach. However, it does not contain any new research data, either basic or clinical. It appears as though the intended audience consists of those specialists who treat upper extremity diseases. This book is an excellent review for medical students, residents, and specialists other than hand surgeons. The book is too rudimentary for the hand surgeon, as it does not provide new information or approaches to management of painful conditions affecting the hand and wrist. Martin P. Cheatle, PhD Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Silverstein Pavilion-2nd Floor 3400 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19104
760
THE JOURNAL
OF HAND SURGERY
Nashold provides a cogent discussion of phantom and avulsion pain and reviews DREZ lesions. The final chapter in this book, by Powell, reviews the management of cancer pain. This chapter is particularly brief and is devoted primarily to the use of percutaneous cordotomy in the treatment of pain. New literature does not support this particular intervention in favor of more aggressive use of opiates. In general, the book is very well written and multidisciplinary in its approach. However, it does not contain any new research data, either basic or clinical. It appears as though the intended audience consists of those specialists who treat upper extremity diseases. This book is an excellent review for medical students, residents, and specialists other than hand surgeons. The book is too rudimentary for the hand surgeon, as it does not provide new information or approaches to management of painful conditions affecting the hand and wrist. Martin P. Cheatle, PhD Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Silverstein Pavilion-2nd Floor 3400 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19104