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Flexor tendon injuries
145
BOOK REVIEWS Flexor Tendon Injuries. Lawrence H. Schneider. Pp xiii + 183 with 71 figures. (Beckenham, Kent: Quest Publishing Agency, 1985). Price US$42.50.
Les Greffes de Peau. By Roger Amar and Bernard Dessapt. Pp. 120 + 82 illustrations and 24 colour plates. First Edition. (Paris: Masson, 1985). Price FF280.
For everyone, either in training or established with an interest in hand surgery. this book is a must. It is written in excellent style. appropriately accompanied by photographs where relevant, and has good references at the end of each section. In the beginning Dr Schneider gives a historical review which is refreshingly short and precise, followed by a longer but comprehensive section on anatomy and function and flexor tendon healing. The remainder of the book is devoted to surgical techniques, flexor tendon procedures, post-operative management. injuries, secondary evaluation of results, and surgery in children. The author is experienced in the field and, while presenting others’ ideas and work, puts his own views clearly on the line. This enables the reader to decide on evidence presented what he might like to do with these important and difficult problems. With such a wealth of material, it is indeed a pleasant surprise to find such a readable book which is neither too tiring to hold nor 1.00 expensive. JOHN C. MCGREGOR
This book is the latest in a series of comparatively short volumes in hard back covers on different aspects of plastic surgery, published by Masson. This particular text deals with the biological aspects of skin grafting and the techniques of cutting and applying skin grafts. The Preface is written by Professor Felix Lagrot who gives the volume his blessing and congratulates the authors on their straightforward account that is free from all unnecessary padding and gives good guidance to the beginner. Lagrot is a little unhappy about the authors’ description and classification of free skin grafts as being of “varying thickness” which he feels is a somewhat ambiguous term: so am I! The current practice of classifying skin grafts as thin or thick split-skin grafts is surely simpler, safer and more in accord with the Gallic tradition of clear writing. The reproduction of the drawings and the 24 colour plates is excellent: that of the black and white illustrations is less successful. The references quoted are useful, most of them recent and by no means restricted to the French surgical literature. Spelling mistakes are few and confined to names (for example the Strycker and Tackray dermatomes): the name of my good friend Clerici Bagozzi is listed as Clerici Bag Zzi 1 in the bibliography, a transfiguration that would bring grey hairs to any professional indexer. The chapters on the general indications for skin grafting and the reasons for failure are adequate, honest but incomplete. The English speaking trainee in plastic surgery has far better texts than this to guide him. One has only to cite Ian McGregor’s book, Grabb and Smith’s text and the various articles that appear from time to time in the British Journal of Hospital Medicine or the monthly volume on Surgery published under the editorship of John Lumley and John Craven to realise how lucky we are. This book may well fill a gap in the French surgical literature, but it is an expensive text for readers on either side of the Channel who would probably prefer a more “solid” text and a softer cover.
Advances in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vol. 1. Edit.ed by Mutaz B. Habal. Pp. xvii + 259 with 107 illustrations. (Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1984). Price &66. Reading this book produced what can best be described as a classical change of mood. The initial impression was one of absolute horror caused by the inhuman treatment meted out to the English language in the preface and introduction. The reminiscences of Dr Lewin were interesting in a nostalgic sense but hardly qualified for inclusion in a book allegedly devoted to advances in the Specialty. The chapter on crania-facial surgery ended with an extensive biography but was otherwise uninspiring: it seems to cover ground with which most are reasonably well acquainted, at least in theory. The editorial notes at the end of the last mentioned chapter and the next are unnecessary and irritating. Surely if an Editor wishes to make his presence felt this should be done with individual contributors in private or maybe through the preface. Certainly this reader gained the impression that the “Impresario” could not contain himself in the wings. Thereafter the task of review became easier. Suction lipectomy and tissue expansion are certainly topics of current concern and there is still room for debate over the best methods of breast reconstruction. Ian Jackson‘s chapter on the treatment of clefts was a breath of fresh air (though some might choose a more chilly metaphor) in that it contains a long overdue clear demand that lip and palate repairs should be based upon proper anatomical considerations. It is a pity that this clear statement, whilst discarding a number of outmoded ideas, contained so little about nasendoscopy and nothing of value concerning intermediate bone grafting with the use of alveolar muco-periosteal flaps. The last chapter on injectable collagen is commendably short, probably accurately reflecting the limitations of the technique. On the whole the book represented a reasonable read and could perhaps be best reviewed as a useful stimulation to further reading. T. D. COCHRANE
MICHAEL
N. TEMPEST
The Greater Omentum: Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Surgery, with an Historical Survey. Edited by D. Liebermann-Meffert and Harvey White. Pp. 369+xx with 262 illustrations, some in colour. First Edition. (Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1983). Price DM436, US $188. This book was dedicated
to Professor Martin Allgawer to celebrate his 65th birthday and of the 30 contributors to the volume more than half come from Switzerland. The Foreword was written by the late Sir Alan Parks, former President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England who died whilst this book was in press, and one of the co-editors, Mr Harvey White, is a Consultant at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. There can be no doubt whatever that this will be the authoritative text and source book on the omentum for many years to come and the subtitles listed above give some idea of the range of topics discussed in very great detail in the seven separate sections of the book. The staggering number of 921 references listed in the bibliographical columns at the end of the chapters is a good enough reason in itself to make this volume a “must” for any Medical Librarian’s shopping list.
BOOK REVIEWS Flexor Tendon Injuries. Lawrence H. Schneider. Pp xiii + 183 with 71 figures. (Beckenham, Kent: Quest Publishing Agency, 1985). Price US$42.50.
Les Greffes de Peau. By Roger Amar and Bernard Dessapt. Pp. 120 + 82 illustrations and 24 colour plates. First Edition. (Paris: Masson, 1985). Price FF280.
For everyone, either in training or established with an interest in hand surgery. this book is a must. It is written in excellent style. appropriately accompanied by photographs where relevant, and has good references at the end of each section. In the beginning Dr Schneider gives a historical review which is refreshingly short and precise, followed by a longer but comprehensive section on anatomy and function and flexor tendon healing. The remainder of the book is devoted to surgical techniques, flexor tendon procedures, post-operative management. injuries, secondary evaluation of results, and surgery in children. The author is experienced in the field and, while presenting others’ ideas and work, puts his own views clearly on the line. This enables the reader to decide on evidence presented what he might like to do with these important and difficult problems. With such a wealth of material, it is indeed a pleasant surprise to find such a readable book which is neither too tiring to hold nor 1.00 expensive. JOHN C. MCGREGOR
This book is the latest in a series of comparatively short volumes in hard back covers on different aspects of plastic surgery, published by Masson. This particular text deals with the biological aspects of skin grafting and the techniques of cutting and applying skin grafts. The Preface is written by Professor Felix Lagrot who gives the volume his blessing and congratulates the authors on their straightforward account that is free from all unnecessary padding and gives good guidance to the beginner. Lagrot is a little unhappy about the authors’ description and classification of free skin grafts as being of “varying thickness” which he feels is a somewhat ambiguous term: so am I! The current practice of classifying skin grafts as thin or thick split-skin grafts is surely simpler, safer and more in accord with the Gallic tradition of clear writing. The reproduction of the drawings and the 24 colour plates is excellent: that of the black and white illustrations is less successful. The references quoted are useful, most of them recent and by no means restricted to the French surgical literature. Spelling mistakes are few and confined to names (for example the Strycker and Tackray dermatomes): the name of my good friend Clerici Bagozzi is listed as Clerici Bag Zzi 1 in the bibliography, a transfiguration that would bring grey hairs to any professional indexer. The chapters on the general indications for skin grafting and the reasons for failure are adequate, honest but incomplete. The English speaking trainee in plastic surgery has far better texts than this to guide him. One has only to cite Ian McGregor’s book, Grabb and Smith’s text and the various articles that appear from time to time in the British Journal of Hospital Medicine or the monthly volume on Surgery published under the editorship of John Lumley and John Craven to realise how lucky we are. This book may well fill a gap in the French surgical literature, but it is an expensive text for readers on either side of the Channel who would probably prefer a more “solid” text and a softer cover.
Advances in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vol. 1. Edit.ed by Mutaz B. Habal. Pp. xvii + 259 with 107 illustrations. (Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1984). Price &66. Reading this book produced what can best be described as a classical change of mood. The initial impression was one of absolute horror caused by the inhuman treatment meted out to the English language in the preface and introduction. The reminiscences of Dr Lewin were interesting in a nostalgic sense but hardly qualified for inclusion in a book allegedly devoted to advances in the Specialty. The chapter on crania-facial surgery ended with an extensive biography but was otherwise uninspiring: it seems to cover ground with which most are reasonably well acquainted, at least in theory. The editorial notes at the end of the last mentioned chapter and the next are unnecessary and irritating. Surely if an Editor wishes to make his presence felt this should be done with individual contributors in private or maybe through the preface. Certainly this reader gained the impression that the “Impresario” could not contain himself in the wings. Thereafter the task of review became easier. Suction lipectomy and tissue expansion are certainly topics of current concern and there is still room for debate over the best methods of breast reconstruction. Ian Jackson‘s chapter on the treatment of clefts was a breath of fresh air (though some might choose a more chilly metaphor) in that it contains a long overdue clear demand that lip and palate repairs should be based upon proper anatomical considerations. It is a pity that this clear statement, whilst discarding a number of outmoded ideas, contained so little about nasendoscopy and nothing of value concerning intermediate bone grafting with the use of alveolar muco-periosteal flaps. The last chapter on injectable collagen is commendably short, probably accurately reflecting the limitations of the technique. On the whole the book represented a reasonable read and could perhaps be best reviewed as a useful stimulation to further reading. T. D. COCHRANE
MICHAEL
N. TEMPEST
The Greater Omentum: Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Surgery, with an Historical Survey. Edited by D. Liebermann-Meffert and Harvey White. Pp. 369+xx with 262 illustrations, some in colour. First Edition. (Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1983). Price DM436, US $188. This book was dedicated
to Professor Martin Allgawer to celebrate his 65th birthday and of the 30 contributors to the volume more than half come from Switzerland. The Foreword was written by the late Sir Alan Parks, former President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England who died whilst this book was in press, and one of the co-editors, Mr Harvey White, is a Consultant at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. There can be no doubt whatever that this will be the authoritative text and source book on the omentum for many years to come and the subtitles listed above give some idea of the range of topics discussed in very great detail in the seven separate sections of the book. The staggering number of 921 references listed in the bibliographical columns at the end of the chapters is a good enough reason in itself to make this volume a “must” for any Medical Librarian’s shopping list.