- Email: [email protected]
Mutilating injuries of the hand. 2nd Edition
Book Reviews First Aid. For Community Health Workers in Developing Countries. Muriel Skeet. 246X188 mm. Pp. 106. 1984. Basingstoke: Macmillan. f4.95. Paperback. f12-00. Hardback. This excellent book is intended to be used by ‘primary health care workers’ in developing countries and wiII clearly be of great value to nurses of all grades, barefoot doctors, mission workers and even to fully qualified doctors who are new to the problems and facilities in a primitive or isolated community. It is much more than a first aid manual as it advises about the early care of a wide range of medical and surgical conditions, telling the reader to refer the case ‘to your superior’ when a good deal of primary treatment has been given. The techniques advocated for the first aid to traumatic events are for the most part orthodox, but some items will be unfamiliar: the styptic effect of cactus juice; how to use the bark of bean trees or plants to form a syrup in which strips of cloth can be dipped to form a substitute for plaster-of-Paris in treating fractures; that fish like snappers and groupers can be poisonous. Sections deal with belly ache, poisoning, intestinal worms, tetanus, rabies and obsterrics, the,management of prostatism, urinary stones, unconsciousness of many causes, hyperpyrexia and hypopyrexia, respiratory and cardiac emergencies. There is a good and well-illustrated chapter about taking the ill or injured patient for further medical help. Finally, advice is given about prophylaxis, how to use the medicines mentioned in the book and how to use the book itself for teaching. Altogether, for E4.95 this paperback deserves a wide circulation and Muriel Skeet is to be heartily congratulated. R. L.
BATTEN
Mutilating Injuries of the Hand. 2nd Edition. Edited by D. A. Campbell Reid and R. Tubiana. G. E. M. Monograph 3. 276~218 mm. Pp. 212. 19%. Edinburgh: Livingstone. f32-00. Hardback. This IS the second edition of a book dealing with the complex problems that can occur after severe trauma of the hand, edited by two formidable hand surgeons. The authors of the individual chapters are internationally recognized. The book is divided into two parts: the first deals with the initial care, immobilization and skin cover, with the techniques of digital and upper limb replantations; the second part explains reconstructive procedures for single and multiple digital loss, the management of the pbalangeal and metacarpal hand, continuing with the techniques of free transfer of the big toe and second toe to the hand. There is a comprehensive discussion on methods for thumb reconstrnction. Each author has combined a description of surgical technique and clinical examples with a discussion of the results and a supplementary bibliography. There are excellent descriptive drawings and clinical photographs. The only drawback is the small size of the print and illustrations.
The book will be of interest to all committed hand surgeons; the practical value may be limited to surgeons in each country who are undertaking this difficult work, T. R. FISHER Trauma and the Anaesthetist. J. C. Stoddart. 234X156 mm. Pp. 190. 1984. London: Bailli&e TindalI. fll-95. Hardback. There have been several texts published recently dealing with the anaesthetic care of the injured; none has been good and one I can remember as being particularly bad. It was a pleasure, therefore; to review this book which is good. There are 11 chapters covering most aspects of the care of the severely injured but surprisingly there was no description of the major problems arising from the metabolic care of the injured. Therefore, it might be thought that the text deals only with the acute phase of the injury but this is not so, particularly in the chapter on the management of chest injuries. Two chapters are contributed by other experts (bumsL. J. Dunkin, and disorders of consciousness--N. E. F. Cartridge), otherwise all the text is by Dr Stoddart. Unlike a previous book from him, this is not a didactic expression of his methods but consists of a careful review of each disorder on which his anaesthetic suggestions are based, thus the book is the practical guide it claims to be. The references are up to date and provide a key to each subject, and as the list is short, the references can readily be used for the further reading as required. When an exhaustive list of references is presented in such books it may say something for the erudition of the author but is no help to the general reader, who has a considerable task to decide which are important. This book can be recommended to a11 anaesthetists who deal with traumatized patients, which must comprise the great majority. The text is easy to read, which is just as well because there are few illustrations but this is better than having it broken by numerous illustrations of doubtful relevance. J. S. ROBINSON oa?oporos~ in Cliiical I+adiiee. Mark Aitken . 216~134 mm. Pp. 146. 1984. Bristol: Wright. f12.50. Hardback. This concise and excellently written monograph provides a brief, but sound approach to a subject which is becoming increasingly important. The orthopaedic and trauma surgeon is often bewildered by the complexities of bone biochemistry, and confused by contradictory recommendations. This book has been written with the specific aim of presenting a simple and intel@ibie approach to the subject, and gives clear guidelines on management. Doctor Mark Aitken is an ackuowIedged expert in the field. He has covered the whole subject in a simple, readable and easily understood style. The 287 references, many of which are discussed in some depth, given an authority to the book which is not o&en achieved in such a short text. The 12 chapters cover all aspects of the subject. There is an excellent chapter on measurement of bone mass and tumover, showing that this need not be reserved for the research
BATTEN
Mutilating Injuries of the Hand. 2nd Edition. Edited by D. A. Campbell Reid and R. Tubiana. G. E. M. Monograph 3. 276~218 mm. Pp. 212. 19%. Edinburgh: Livingstone. f32-00. Hardback. This IS the second edition of a book dealing with the complex problems that can occur after severe trauma of the hand, edited by two formidable hand surgeons. The authors of the individual chapters are internationally recognized. The book is divided into two parts: the first deals with the initial care, immobilization and skin cover, with the techniques of digital and upper limb replantations; the second part explains reconstructive procedures for single and multiple digital loss, the management of the pbalangeal and metacarpal hand, continuing with the techniques of free transfer of the big toe and second toe to the hand. There is a comprehensive discussion on methods for thumb reconstrnction. Each author has combined a description of surgical technique and clinical examples with a discussion of the results and a supplementary bibliography. There are excellent descriptive drawings and clinical photographs. The only drawback is the small size of the print and illustrations.
The book will be of interest to all committed hand surgeons; the practical value may be limited to surgeons in each country who are undertaking this difficult work, T. R. FISHER Trauma and the Anaesthetist. J. C. Stoddart. 234X156 mm. Pp. 190. 1984. London: Bailli&e TindalI. fll-95. Hardback. There have been several texts published recently dealing with the anaesthetic care of the injured; none has been good and one I can remember as being particularly bad. It was a pleasure, therefore; to review this book which is good. There are 11 chapters covering most aspects of the care of the severely injured but surprisingly there was no description of the major problems arising from the metabolic care of the injured. Therefore, it might be thought that the text deals only with the acute phase of the injury but this is not so, particularly in the chapter on the management of chest injuries. Two chapters are contributed by other experts (bumsL. J. Dunkin, and disorders of consciousness--N. E. F. Cartridge), otherwise all the text is by Dr Stoddart. Unlike a previous book from him, this is not a didactic expression of his methods but consists of a careful review of each disorder on which his anaesthetic suggestions are based, thus the book is the practical guide it claims to be. The references are up to date and provide a key to each subject, and as the list is short, the references can readily be used for the further reading as required. When an exhaustive list of references is presented in such books it may say something for the erudition of the author but is no help to the general reader, who has a considerable task to decide which are important. This book can be recommended to a11 anaesthetists who deal with traumatized patients, which must comprise the great majority. The text is easy to read, which is just as well because there are few illustrations but this is better than having it broken by numerous illustrations of doubtful relevance. J. S. ROBINSON oa?oporos~ in Cliiical I+adiiee. Mark Aitken . 216~134 mm. Pp. 146. 1984. Bristol: Wright. f12.50. Hardback. This concise and excellently written monograph provides a brief, but sound approach to a subject which is becoming increasingly important. The orthopaedic and trauma surgeon is often bewildered by the complexities of bone biochemistry, and confused by contradictory recommendations. This book has been written with the specific aim of presenting a simple and intel@ibie approach to the subject, and gives clear guidelines on management. Doctor Mark Aitken is an ackuowIedged expert in the field. He has covered the whole subject in a simple, readable and easily understood style. The 287 references, many of which are discussed in some depth, given an authority to the book which is not o&en achieved in such a short text. The 12 chapters cover all aspects of the subject. There is an excellent chapter on measurement of bone mass and tumover, showing that this need not be reserved for the research