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Operative hand surgery. 2nd ed.
754
Book reviews
properly diagnosing skeletal metastases and also discusses improvements in techniques for treatment. The book traces the historical background of skeletal metastases and covers many aspects of the disease including sites of origins, incidence, useful new technical methods for diagnosis, clinical treatment, and management of skeletal metastases, as well as complications of metastases. The book is mainly geared for the orthopedic surgeon who deals with axial skeletal metastases and lower extremity metastases and despite the plethora of information in this book, the hand surgeon will find a dearth of information that is applicable to his specialty. In fact, the sole figure of the book relevant to hand surgery is a photograph of an index finger with a metastasis from an undiagnosed bronchial carcinoma. The occasional hand surgeon who has a strong interest in general orthopedics and skeletal metastases apart from the upper extremity will find that this book is complete, well written, and quite readable. Given the cost of the book and its content, this book would not be given high priority on the reading list of the practicing hand surgeon. J. Russell Moore, MD 1400 Front Ave, First Floor Lutherville, MD 21093
Operative hand surgery. 2nd ed. Three volumes. By David P. Green, MD, editor. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1988: 2458 pp, $250.00. This three-volume textbook contains such a wealth of current information, and such a range of pertinent subjects, it must be considered the comprehensive reference for operative techniques in surgery of the hand. The contributors are 71 acknowledged experts on each topic, yet each chapter reflects the organizational ability of the editor. Every chapter leads the reader, with delineated sub-titles, through an evaluation of the clinical problem, presents indications and techniques for appropriate surgical procedures, and is summarized with the method preferred by the contributor of that topic. The three volumes are divided into 63 chapters under 24 group headings, with 1567 illustrations and 9025 bibliographic citations. The group headings range from clinical problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, dystrophy, or cerebral palsy to anatomical regions such as skin, thumb, or nails, to techniques such as amputations, arthrodesis, or tendon injuries and rconstruction. Several of the group headings such as congenital de-
The Journal of HAND SURGERY
formities, microvascular surgery, or nerves and nerve reconstruction could be published as monographs in hand surgery. Group headings range from immediate problems such as infections or fractures and dislocations to the management of chronic problems such as contractures or tenosynovitis and tennis elbow. Eight new chapters have been added to the second edition. The majority of the illustrations are well-detailed line drawings that have been done by a single medical illustrator and provide visual continuity throughout the entire text. Approximately 215 illustrations have been added to the second edition. References are listed with each chapter and divided into presented topics. A complete index is included in each volume, which is adequate. This is an expensive text, but is of fine quality. Although there are brief historical introductions in several chapters, a chapter on the history of modem surgery of the hand would add completeness to this text. In our present legal climate, there may be value in more emphasis on disability evaluation than is found in most chapters of this text. This text meets the expectations of the experienced hand surgeon while teaching principles to the resident and hand fellow. It has already become a benchmark in the hand surgery literature and should be in the personal library of all surgeons who work in the upper extremity. Library copies should be available for nurses, therapists, and technicians involved in the overall management of the hand and upper extremity. It should be used as a reference in medical center libraries throughout the English-speaking world. George E. Omer, MD Albuquerque, New Mexico
Internal fixation of small fractures. Edited by U. Heim, K. M. Pfeiffer, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1988: 393 pp, $130.00. The third edition of Internal Fixation of Small Fractures, edited by Drs. Urs Heim and Karl Pfeiffer and published by Springer-Verlag, will serve as an invaluable resource for any surgeon using the techniques of rigid internal fixation. This superbly illustrated book, comparable in style and format with its immensely popular counterpart A0 Manual for larger fractures, is likewise a technical manual. The reader should be aware that this book does not profess to offer a comprehensive approach to fracture treatment nor put forth in equal detail alternative methods. Its bibliography is sparse, and a number of the references are to be found in the
Book reviews
properly diagnosing skeletal metastases and also discusses improvements in techniques for treatment. The book traces the historical background of skeletal metastases and covers many aspects of the disease including sites of origins, incidence, useful new technical methods for diagnosis, clinical treatment, and management of skeletal metastases, as well as complications of metastases. The book is mainly geared for the orthopedic surgeon who deals with axial skeletal metastases and lower extremity metastases and despite the plethora of information in this book, the hand surgeon will find a dearth of information that is applicable to his specialty. In fact, the sole figure of the book relevant to hand surgery is a photograph of an index finger with a metastasis from an undiagnosed bronchial carcinoma. The occasional hand surgeon who has a strong interest in general orthopedics and skeletal metastases apart from the upper extremity will find that this book is complete, well written, and quite readable. Given the cost of the book and its content, this book would not be given high priority on the reading list of the practicing hand surgeon. J. Russell Moore, MD 1400 Front Ave, First Floor Lutherville, MD 21093
Operative hand surgery. 2nd ed. Three volumes. By David P. Green, MD, editor. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1988: 2458 pp, $250.00. This three-volume textbook contains such a wealth of current information, and such a range of pertinent subjects, it must be considered the comprehensive reference for operative techniques in surgery of the hand. The contributors are 71 acknowledged experts on each topic, yet each chapter reflects the organizational ability of the editor. Every chapter leads the reader, with delineated sub-titles, through an evaluation of the clinical problem, presents indications and techniques for appropriate surgical procedures, and is summarized with the method preferred by the contributor of that topic. The three volumes are divided into 63 chapters under 24 group headings, with 1567 illustrations and 9025 bibliographic citations. The group headings range from clinical problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, dystrophy, or cerebral palsy to anatomical regions such as skin, thumb, or nails, to techniques such as amputations, arthrodesis, or tendon injuries and rconstruction. Several of the group headings such as congenital de-
The Journal of HAND SURGERY
formities, microvascular surgery, or nerves and nerve reconstruction could be published as monographs in hand surgery. Group headings range from immediate problems such as infections or fractures and dislocations to the management of chronic problems such as contractures or tenosynovitis and tennis elbow. Eight new chapters have been added to the second edition. The majority of the illustrations are well-detailed line drawings that have been done by a single medical illustrator and provide visual continuity throughout the entire text. Approximately 215 illustrations have been added to the second edition. References are listed with each chapter and divided into presented topics. A complete index is included in each volume, which is adequate. This is an expensive text, but is of fine quality. Although there are brief historical introductions in several chapters, a chapter on the history of modem surgery of the hand would add completeness to this text. In our present legal climate, there may be value in more emphasis on disability evaluation than is found in most chapters of this text. This text meets the expectations of the experienced hand surgeon while teaching principles to the resident and hand fellow. It has already become a benchmark in the hand surgery literature and should be in the personal library of all surgeons who work in the upper extremity. Library copies should be available for nurses, therapists, and technicians involved in the overall management of the hand and upper extremity. It should be used as a reference in medical center libraries throughout the English-speaking world. George E. Omer, MD Albuquerque, New Mexico
Internal fixation of small fractures. Edited by U. Heim, K. M. Pfeiffer, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1988: 393 pp, $130.00. The third edition of Internal Fixation of Small Fractures, edited by Drs. Urs Heim and Karl Pfeiffer and published by Springer-Verlag, will serve as an invaluable resource for any surgeon using the techniques of rigid internal fixation. This superbly illustrated book, comparable in style and format with its immensely popular counterpart A0 Manual for larger fractures, is likewise a technical manual. The reader should be aware that this book does not profess to offer a comprehensive approach to fracture treatment nor put forth in equal detail alternative methods. Its bibliography is sparse, and a number of the references are to be found in the