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Osteosynthesis in hand surgery
The H a n d - - J u n e 1973
BOOK REVIEWS O S T E O S Y N T H E S E IN D E R H A N D C H I R U R G I E (Osteosynthesis in Hand Surgery) by Alfred Pannike, M.D. Privatdozent, Chirurgische Universit~its-Klinik and Poliklinik, Ttibingen, Germany. 25 cm. x 17.5 cm. PP. x i + 1 2 4 , 167 illustrations. Bibliography. Index. In German. 1972. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Springer-Verlag. ISBN 3-540-05894 X and 0-387-05894 X. The first part of this book reviews briefly all previous methods of osteosynthesis in the hand finding none of them really acceptable. The next, major, part is devoted to the minute description of the compression osteosynthesis as elaborated by the Swiss " A O " group. In the experimental analysis of the force of compression--as far as I could see--no attention was paid to the question as to how long these high compression forces are maintained. There is evidence that it is lost in less than two weeks and some believe that compression actually hinders union. Whatever the theoretical background may be, Dr. Pannike's presentation of 200 hand problems who immediately after operation could start active exercises is impressive and should make every one of us examine our methods to make sure we are holding the right balance between conservative and surgical management. The bibliography is comprehensive, but not free from errors. J. C. Griffiths's paper on fractures at the base of the first metacarpal is in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 46, 712 (1964), and Y. Goto, on finger fractures is 49, 387 (1967). H. J. H A M B U R Y . S U R G E R Y OF R E P A I R AS A P P L I E D TO H A N D I N J U R I E S by Sir Benjamin Rank, C.M.G., M.S.(Melbourne), F.R.C.S.(England), F.R.A.C.S., F.A.C.S., F.R.C.S.(Canada)Hon., D.Sc.(Punjabi)Hon. Consulting Plastic Surgeon, Royal Melbourne Hospital, A. R. Wakefield, M.S.(Melbourne), F.R.C.S.(England), F.R.A.C.S., Formerly Plastic Surgeon, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, and J. T. Hueston, M.S.(Melbourne), F.R.C.S.(England), F.R.A.C.S., Honorary Plastic Surgeon, Royal Melbourne Hospital. Fourth Edition, 25 cm. x 19 cm. Pp. xv+390. 310 Figures. Index. 1973. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh and London. ISBN O 443 00934 1. Price £4. U.S. Dollars 10 approx. It is difficult if not impossible to review this b o o k - - t h e fourth edition. It has been reviewed in so many journals so often that all the superlatives have been used before. It has frequently been described as a classic, and it is certainly essential reading for anyone with a deep interest in hand surgery, and is a valuable source of reference for anyone responsible for the emergency treatment of hand injuries. It should be available in all hospital libraries. However I have one correction for the fifth edition. In the caption of one of the illustrations (Fig. 144) they refer to the ring finger as the third finger. This must be, I am sure, unintentional, as all hand surgeons now agree that the fingers must be named and not numbered. They also still use the old notation for recording angles, with full extension at 180 ° . It has now been recommended by most of the leading Orthopaedic Associations, and all the Hand Societies in the International Federation, that we should record motion from the zero position, with full extension recorded as 0 °. It is important that we should achieve standardisation in this respect as a first step to agreeing standard methods of assessing results, in our attempts to achieve the highest standards of surgery, as exemplified in this book. G R A H A M STACK. 182
The Hand--Vol. 5
No. 2
1973
BOOK REVIEWS O S T E O S Y N T H E S E IN D E R H A N D C H I R U R G I E (Osteosynthesis in Hand Surgery) by Alfred Pannike, M.D. Privatdozent, Chirurgische Universit~its-Klinik and Poliklinik, Ttibingen, Germany. 25 cm. x 17.5 cm. PP. x i + 1 2 4 , 167 illustrations. Bibliography. Index. In German. 1972. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Springer-Verlag. ISBN 3-540-05894 X and 0-387-05894 X. The first part of this book reviews briefly all previous methods of osteosynthesis in the hand finding none of them really acceptable. The next, major, part is devoted to the minute description of the compression osteosynthesis as elaborated by the Swiss " A O " group. In the experimental analysis of the force of compression--as far as I could see--no attention was paid to the question as to how long these high compression forces are maintained. There is evidence that it is lost in less than two weeks and some believe that compression actually hinders union. Whatever the theoretical background may be, Dr. Pannike's presentation of 200 hand problems who immediately after operation could start active exercises is impressive and should make every one of us examine our methods to make sure we are holding the right balance between conservative and surgical management. The bibliography is comprehensive, but not free from errors. J. C. Griffiths's paper on fractures at the base of the first metacarpal is in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 46, 712 (1964), and Y. Goto, on finger fractures is 49, 387 (1967). H. J. H A M B U R Y . S U R G E R Y OF R E P A I R AS A P P L I E D TO H A N D I N J U R I E S by Sir Benjamin Rank, C.M.G., M.S.(Melbourne), F.R.C.S.(England), F.R.A.C.S., F.A.C.S., F.R.C.S.(Canada)Hon., D.Sc.(Punjabi)Hon. Consulting Plastic Surgeon, Royal Melbourne Hospital, A. R. Wakefield, M.S.(Melbourne), F.R.C.S.(England), F.R.A.C.S., Formerly Plastic Surgeon, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, and J. T. Hueston, M.S.(Melbourne), F.R.C.S.(England), F.R.A.C.S., Honorary Plastic Surgeon, Royal Melbourne Hospital. Fourth Edition, 25 cm. x 19 cm. Pp. xv+390. 310 Figures. Index. 1973. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh and London. ISBN O 443 00934 1. Price £4. U.S. Dollars 10 approx. It is difficult if not impossible to review this b o o k - - t h e fourth edition. It has been reviewed in so many journals so often that all the superlatives have been used before. It has frequently been described as a classic, and it is certainly essential reading for anyone with a deep interest in hand surgery, and is a valuable source of reference for anyone responsible for the emergency treatment of hand injuries. It should be available in all hospital libraries. However I have one correction for the fifth edition. In the caption of one of the illustrations (Fig. 144) they refer to the ring finger as the third finger. This must be, I am sure, unintentional, as all hand surgeons now agree that the fingers must be named and not numbered. They also still use the old notation for recording angles, with full extension at 180 ° . It has now been recommended by most of the leading Orthopaedic Associations, and all the Hand Societies in the International Federation, that we should record motion from the zero position, with full extension recorded as 0 °. It is important that we should achieve standardisation in this respect as a first step to agreeing standard methods of assessing results, in our attempts to achieve the highest standards of surgery, as exemplified in this book. G R A H A M STACK. 182
The Hand--Vol. 5
No. 2
1973