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Comprehensive textbook of foot surgery
CURRENT
ORTHOPAEDICS
65
It is noteworthy that the author is, besides being a trained orthopaedic surgeon, also an accomplished medical artist and all the illustrations have been
tions. It will also be essential reading for surgeons at a more junior level studying towards their basic examinations and will also be a source of comfort to surgeons
produced by himself. This hard backed book is reasonably priced considering its quality and will undoubtedly be a boon to all orthopaedic surgeons studying for specialist examina-
working in the middle of the night without a suitable colleague to turn to. RAYMONDJ.NEWMANBSC DPhil FRCS
Managing Low Back Pain-Second Inc., New York 1988 ISBN o-443-08535-8
403 Pages
Edition
Edited by W. H. Kirkaldy-Willis.
Price f39.50
ISBN 683 05862 2
1077 pages
Livingstone
____
This well presented and nicely illustrated text addresses the subject of degenerative disease of the lumbar spine; moreover it does it very well. Although there are contributors from other parts of the North American continent this is essentially the thoughts of Kirkaldy-Willis backed up by his Saskatoon colleagues. And why not, as Professor Kirkaldy-Willis has been at the forefront of this subject for most of his professional lifetime. Short chapters on Applied Science (e.g. Biomechanits, Anatomy) are followed by clinical descriptions ranging from psychological assessment to magnetic resonance imaging. The book finishes with 150 pages of treatment divided into twelve chapters, of which interestingly enough only one concerns surgery. There
Comprehensive Textbook of Foot Surgery Baltimore 1987
Churchill
is thus considerable space diverted to non-operative techniques. There is much of interest and excellence in this book, which is ideally suited to the Senior Resident or General Orthopaedic Consultant, who deals in low back problems. Those who have given up trying to accurately define low back problems should have their own personal copy as indeed should those that haven’t, although the text ought to be available in their local library. At under fi40.00 for 400 pages this is an att.ractive price for a very user-friendly package and certainly one of the better books I have looked at recently on this enigmatic subject.
Edited by E. Dalton McGlamry.
Price f192.00
This multi-author textbook on surgery of the foot was ‘planned to serve as a resource for students, residents and practitioners of foot surgery’ and is described in the title as being ‘comprehensive’. Forty-two experienced podiatrists have contributed to produce 32 highly detailed and well illustrated chapters. The only minor blemish in a high class production is the clarity of some of the radiographs. Each chapter has its own extensive bibliography drawn almost entirely from the English speaking world. Except in a few chapters there is so much information that it is too advanced for the student and, with insufficient guidance on the selection of procedures, it is unsuitable for the resident, who frequently requires simple advice quickly. For the mature surgeon it will be of great value for study, reference and practice. The book is indeed comprehensive in every condition that is included but some are omitted. One is the deformities which follow poliomyelitis. It is understa-
-.
~_.___~__
Williams and Wilkins,
.___~~~
ble that these should be excluded in a country where the disease has long been eradicated but there remain parts of the world in which it is still common. Another is tuberculous disease of joints of the foot which receives scant mention although this disease still occurs In a chapter on nails techniques of treatment which include the more recent conservative methods are meticulously described. There is an exhaustive account of conditions of the first metatarsal ray which includes up to-date information on the use of implants and the not infrequent complications. In a section on special surgery a further chapter is devoted to first metatarsophalangeal joint implant surgery. A chapter on the complex subject of pes cavus concludes with the broad generalisation that the surgeon’s decision must be based on the patient’s overall condition and the abnormalities found in the individual foot. Club foot still presents difficult problems not the least of which
66
BOOK REVIEWS
is the selection of methods of treatment. To this end a valuable time table is included which gives his indications for treatment from birth up to the age of twelve years. Possibly the most important problem in the management of metatarsus varus is not knowing how to treat it but knowing if treatment is necessary. It is alleged that all cases eventually become symptomatic and that treatment starting as soon as possible after birth is mandatory. The many tumours and tumorous conditions which may occur in the foot are described in depth. Those which affect bone are rare compared with other parts of the skeleton but usually difficult to treat; the surgeon may have to choose between curettage, radical excision, resection en bloc, and amputation. In this respect the text could be more informative. One fifth of the text is allocated to fractures and dislocations of the foot and ankle joint. A comprehensive classification of fractures of the calcaneus is provided and open reduction and internal fixation using screws and plates for displaced intra-articular fractures is favoured.
The importance of oedema, haematoma and infection is emphasised in a separate chapter. This includes a formidable list of possible infecting organisms and their sensitivity or resistance to a wide range of drugs. On the subject of osteomyelitis there is a ‘summary of the current concepts that appear to be accepted as judicious in the management of osteomyelitis’. The description of the problems caused by infection complicating implants must be of considerable practical value. A series of excellent accounts of rheumatoid arthritis are to be found, spread through the book on a regional basis. Problems caused by the complications of diabetes mellitus are described in separate sections; a little more information about surgical treatment of infected and necrotic lesions in the foot would be helpful. All in all a well presented and informative text. Has the time come for orthopaedic surgeons to learn from podiatrists? J. FITTON
The 1987 Year Book of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Medical Publishers Inc., Chicago 1988 ISBN 0 81516572 2 600
600 pages
Price f45.00
Although there is a volume devoted to orthopaedics in the Year Book series, this book is specifically restricted to a review of articles on the foot and ankle. These have been collected from 90 different journals including many from the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavia and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. There are 16 chapters which cover the forefoot, hindfoot and ankle, and deal with trauma, tumours, infection, arthritis and diabetes mellitus, etc. As a result this is a very good summary of work relevant to the ankle and foot collected from publications which appeared during the period from
Fracture Healing ISBN 0 443 08556 0
November 1985 until the end of October 1986. The contributors are all podiatrists, a group of recognised foot specialists which practice in the United States of America and who at present have no strictly comparable counterpart in the United Kingdom. All the abstracts are followed by a short critique. These contributions should be read bearing in mind the background of the authors who have not had a broad based training. Overall for the interested clinicians this 360 page volume provides a useful summary of the up-to-date literature. LESLIEKLENERMAN
Edited by Joseph M. Lane. Churchill 384 pages
Edited by Richard M. Jay. Year Book
Livingstone,
Edinburgh
1987
Price E35.00
The first Bristol/Zimmer symposium was held in New York in 1984 and what this involved is explained briefly in the Foreword. The published outcome, in 1987, is a book on Fracture Healing. Such proceedings do not always make good books, but this is a notable exception. All who are interested in the treatment of fractures need to be informed about more than the nuts and
bolts of their craft, and the subjects discussed here provide an excellent summary of current progress in North America (with the occasional incursion into Europe). The first 87 pages deal with biological factors and the induction of repair. A substantial section is concerned with fracture mechanics and stabilisation. This includes a clear summary of the biomechanics of
ORTHOPAEDICS
65
It is noteworthy that the author is, besides being a trained orthopaedic surgeon, also an accomplished medical artist and all the illustrations have been
tions. It will also be essential reading for surgeons at a more junior level studying towards their basic examinations and will also be a source of comfort to surgeons
produced by himself. This hard backed book is reasonably priced considering its quality and will undoubtedly be a boon to all orthopaedic surgeons studying for specialist examina-
working in the middle of the night without a suitable colleague to turn to. RAYMONDJ.NEWMANBSC DPhil FRCS
Managing Low Back Pain-Second Inc., New York 1988 ISBN o-443-08535-8
403 Pages
Edition
Edited by W. H. Kirkaldy-Willis.
Price f39.50
ISBN 683 05862 2
1077 pages
Livingstone
____
This well presented and nicely illustrated text addresses the subject of degenerative disease of the lumbar spine; moreover it does it very well. Although there are contributors from other parts of the North American continent this is essentially the thoughts of Kirkaldy-Willis backed up by his Saskatoon colleagues. And why not, as Professor Kirkaldy-Willis has been at the forefront of this subject for most of his professional lifetime. Short chapters on Applied Science (e.g. Biomechanits, Anatomy) are followed by clinical descriptions ranging from psychological assessment to magnetic resonance imaging. The book finishes with 150 pages of treatment divided into twelve chapters, of which interestingly enough only one concerns surgery. There
Comprehensive Textbook of Foot Surgery Baltimore 1987
Churchill
is thus considerable space diverted to non-operative techniques. There is much of interest and excellence in this book, which is ideally suited to the Senior Resident or General Orthopaedic Consultant, who deals in low back problems. Those who have given up trying to accurately define low back problems should have their own personal copy as indeed should those that haven’t, although the text ought to be available in their local library. At under fi40.00 for 400 pages this is an att.ractive price for a very user-friendly package and certainly one of the better books I have looked at recently on this enigmatic subject.
Edited by E. Dalton McGlamry.
Price f192.00
This multi-author textbook on surgery of the foot was ‘planned to serve as a resource for students, residents and practitioners of foot surgery’ and is described in the title as being ‘comprehensive’. Forty-two experienced podiatrists have contributed to produce 32 highly detailed and well illustrated chapters. The only minor blemish in a high class production is the clarity of some of the radiographs. Each chapter has its own extensive bibliography drawn almost entirely from the English speaking world. Except in a few chapters there is so much information that it is too advanced for the student and, with insufficient guidance on the selection of procedures, it is unsuitable for the resident, who frequently requires simple advice quickly. For the mature surgeon it will be of great value for study, reference and practice. The book is indeed comprehensive in every condition that is included but some are omitted. One is the deformities which follow poliomyelitis. It is understa-
-.
~_.___~__
Williams and Wilkins,
.___~~~
ble that these should be excluded in a country where the disease has long been eradicated but there remain parts of the world in which it is still common. Another is tuberculous disease of joints of the foot which receives scant mention although this disease still occurs In a chapter on nails techniques of treatment which include the more recent conservative methods are meticulously described. There is an exhaustive account of conditions of the first metatarsal ray which includes up to-date information on the use of implants and the not infrequent complications. In a section on special surgery a further chapter is devoted to first metatarsophalangeal joint implant surgery. A chapter on the complex subject of pes cavus concludes with the broad generalisation that the surgeon’s decision must be based on the patient’s overall condition and the abnormalities found in the individual foot. Club foot still presents difficult problems not the least of which
66
BOOK REVIEWS
is the selection of methods of treatment. To this end a valuable time table is included which gives his indications for treatment from birth up to the age of twelve years. Possibly the most important problem in the management of metatarsus varus is not knowing how to treat it but knowing if treatment is necessary. It is alleged that all cases eventually become symptomatic and that treatment starting as soon as possible after birth is mandatory. The many tumours and tumorous conditions which may occur in the foot are described in depth. Those which affect bone are rare compared with other parts of the skeleton but usually difficult to treat; the surgeon may have to choose between curettage, radical excision, resection en bloc, and amputation. In this respect the text could be more informative. One fifth of the text is allocated to fractures and dislocations of the foot and ankle joint. A comprehensive classification of fractures of the calcaneus is provided and open reduction and internal fixation using screws and plates for displaced intra-articular fractures is favoured.
The importance of oedema, haematoma and infection is emphasised in a separate chapter. This includes a formidable list of possible infecting organisms and their sensitivity or resistance to a wide range of drugs. On the subject of osteomyelitis there is a ‘summary of the current concepts that appear to be accepted as judicious in the management of osteomyelitis’. The description of the problems caused by infection complicating implants must be of considerable practical value. A series of excellent accounts of rheumatoid arthritis are to be found, spread through the book on a regional basis. Problems caused by the complications of diabetes mellitus are described in separate sections; a little more information about surgical treatment of infected and necrotic lesions in the foot would be helpful. All in all a well presented and informative text. Has the time come for orthopaedic surgeons to learn from podiatrists? J. FITTON
The 1987 Year Book of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Medical Publishers Inc., Chicago 1988 ISBN 0 81516572 2 600
600 pages
Price f45.00
Although there is a volume devoted to orthopaedics in the Year Book series, this book is specifically restricted to a review of articles on the foot and ankle. These have been collected from 90 different journals including many from the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavia and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. There are 16 chapters which cover the forefoot, hindfoot and ankle, and deal with trauma, tumours, infection, arthritis and diabetes mellitus, etc. As a result this is a very good summary of work relevant to the ankle and foot collected from publications which appeared during the period from
Fracture Healing ISBN 0 443 08556 0
November 1985 until the end of October 1986. The contributors are all podiatrists, a group of recognised foot specialists which practice in the United States of America and who at present have no strictly comparable counterpart in the United Kingdom. All the abstracts are followed by a short critique. These contributions should be read bearing in mind the background of the authors who have not had a broad based training. Overall for the interested clinicians this 360 page volume provides a useful summary of the up-to-date literature. LESLIEKLENERMAN
Edited by Joseph M. Lane. Churchill 384 pages
Edited by Richard M. Jay. Year Book
Livingstone,
Edinburgh
1987
Price E35.00
The first Bristol/Zimmer symposium was held in New York in 1984 and what this involved is explained briefly in the Foreword. The published outcome, in 1987, is a book on Fracture Healing. Such proceedings do not always make good books, but this is a notable exception. All who are interested in the treatment of fractures need to be informed about more than the nuts and
bolts of their craft, and the subjects discussed here provide an excellent summary of current progress in North America (with the occasional incursion into Europe). The first 87 pages deal with biological factors and the induction of repair. A substantial section is concerned with fracture mechanics and stabilisation. This includes a clear summary of the biomechanics of