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The pediatric spine: Practice and principle
248
Book review~Bone Miner. 25 (1994) 247-249
Similarly, the chapter on osteoporosis in men is excellent, very readable and with significant clinical implications. 'Every osteopenic or osteoporotic man should have a routine measurement of serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone' may be an oversimplification but does stress the importance of osteoporosis in men. Chapter 75 covers the sclerosing bone dysplasias. Although well written, this is a somewhat simplistic chapter, but does form an excellent primer for those not directly involved in clinical medicine. Chapter 83 covers Paget's disease of bone. It is estimated that up to 3% of people over the age of 55 living in the United States have Paget's disease, making it second only to osteoporosis in numbers of people with a disorder of bone metabolism. Once again, well written, with an excellent segment on the treatment of Paget's disease and a summary of medical agents now available. Section I l is devoted to appendices and provides growth charts, ossification center charts, etc. In summary, I found this to be an excellent, precise summary on metabolic bone diseases. It is directed both towards those involved in clinical care as well as those involved in research. I would find it most valuable for students-in-training as well as the practicing clinician with an interest in the metabolic bone diseases. It provides an excellent, up-to-date source of information for researchers who require background information presented in a compact, highly readable manner. The only drawback to the book is a tendency for repetition, not an uncommon complaint with multiple authorship.
The Pediatric Spine: Practice and Principle
The Pediatric Spine: Practice and Principle Edited by Stuart L. Weinstein, Raven Press, New York, 1993, 1959 pp.
The Pediatric Spine is a 1959-page, two volume textbook written for all levels of involvement dealing with multiple facets of the pediatric spine. From its authors, the names read like a who's who in the list of orthopaedic surgeons, as depicted in the eloquently written forward by John Hall. Not only are they well recognized in the USA, but internationally as well. The 126 authors compiled 85 chapters dealing with the practice and principles of the pediatric spine. The edition was organized from the beginning, as one would logically expect, starting with Developmental Anatomy and sequentially going through the biomechanics of the spine and then, most importantly, discussing the aspects of patient evaluation and treatment. The next seven chapters are a systematic study of differential diagnoses that have involvement with the spine. The first is Chapter 5 which masterfully covers all of the congenital anomalies involved with the spine. The next chapter 0169-6009/94/$07.00 9 1994 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. SSDI 0169-6009(94)00684-Z
Book review / Bone Miner. 25 (1994) 247-249
249
eloquently covers the developmental abnormalities of the spine. From there the 'choice' authors present five chapters covering traumatic spine conditions. The text then covers inflammatory infectious conditions in four chapters. Neoplasms are discussed in two well-written chapters. Finally the metabolic diseases involving the spine are discussed and summed up with a discussion of those neuromuscular conditions that involve the pediatric spine. Stuart Weinstein has his contributors discuss the anesthetic considerations and some of the newer aspects of spinal surgery. This is covered in the chapters on neurophysiology and spinal cord monitoring. The book then continues by rendering and updating the use of traction and casting involved with the treatment of spinal disorders. The multifaceted list of contributors go through the approaches, rationale and surgical techniques involved with the treatment of such spinal disorders and then add an expressive discussion of anterior and posterior instrumentation of the spine. In a logical fashion he concludes the final chapters of the book with the complications of surgery. The appendices - - which include terminology and definitions, the radiographic measurements, and classifications - - are a must for the student or resident who is getting his or her first taste of involvement with the aspects of the pediatric spine. In summary, this book provides a superb current information source for student, intern, resident or fellow who has any interest in the pediatric spine. He has chosen his contributing authors well and the chapters are written with detail. In addition to the excellent manuscript, the choice of photographs, graphs, drawings and X-rays are all excellent. I certainly have to echo the words of John Hall: 'The logistics of getting these 126 authors to produce the 85 chapters before the information is obsolete would obviously daunt most editors'. Each chapter in itself, with its wellrecognized authors would be an excellent text. Collectively they make this text a very comprehensive approach to the principles of pediatric and adolescent spine treatment.
M.L. Stetten, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor University of Louisville Chief Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Kosair Children's Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky
Book review~Bone Miner. 25 (1994) 247-249
Similarly, the chapter on osteoporosis in men is excellent, very readable and with significant clinical implications. 'Every osteopenic or osteoporotic man should have a routine measurement of serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone' may be an oversimplification but does stress the importance of osteoporosis in men. Chapter 75 covers the sclerosing bone dysplasias. Although well written, this is a somewhat simplistic chapter, but does form an excellent primer for those not directly involved in clinical medicine. Chapter 83 covers Paget's disease of bone. It is estimated that up to 3% of people over the age of 55 living in the United States have Paget's disease, making it second only to osteoporosis in numbers of people with a disorder of bone metabolism. Once again, well written, with an excellent segment on the treatment of Paget's disease and a summary of medical agents now available. Section I l is devoted to appendices and provides growth charts, ossification center charts, etc. In summary, I found this to be an excellent, precise summary on metabolic bone diseases. It is directed both towards those involved in clinical care as well as those involved in research. I would find it most valuable for students-in-training as well as the practicing clinician with an interest in the metabolic bone diseases. It provides an excellent, up-to-date source of information for researchers who require background information presented in a compact, highly readable manner. The only drawback to the book is a tendency for repetition, not an uncommon complaint with multiple authorship.
The Pediatric Spine: Practice and Principle
The Pediatric Spine: Practice and Principle Edited by Stuart L. Weinstein, Raven Press, New York, 1993, 1959 pp.
The Pediatric Spine is a 1959-page, two volume textbook written for all levels of involvement dealing with multiple facets of the pediatric spine. From its authors, the names read like a who's who in the list of orthopaedic surgeons, as depicted in the eloquently written forward by John Hall. Not only are they well recognized in the USA, but internationally as well. The 126 authors compiled 85 chapters dealing with the practice and principles of the pediatric spine. The edition was organized from the beginning, as one would logically expect, starting with Developmental Anatomy and sequentially going through the biomechanics of the spine and then, most importantly, discussing the aspects of patient evaluation and treatment. The next seven chapters are a systematic study of differential diagnoses that have involvement with the spine. The first is Chapter 5 which masterfully covers all of the congenital anomalies involved with the spine. The next chapter 0169-6009/94/$07.00 9 1994 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. SSDI 0169-6009(94)00684-Z
Book review / Bone Miner. 25 (1994) 247-249
249
eloquently covers the developmental abnormalities of the spine. From there the 'choice' authors present five chapters covering traumatic spine conditions. The text then covers inflammatory infectious conditions in four chapters. Neoplasms are discussed in two well-written chapters. Finally the metabolic diseases involving the spine are discussed and summed up with a discussion of those neuromuscular conditions that involve the pediatric spine. Stuart Weinstein has his contributors discuss the anesthetic considerations and some of the newer aspects of spinal surgery. This is covered in the chapters on neurophysiology and spinal cord monitoring. The book then continues by rendering and updating the use of traction and casting involved with the treatment of spinal disorders. The multifaceted list of contributors go through the approaches, rationale and surgical techniques involved with the treatment of such spinal disorders and then add an expressive discussion of anterior and posterior instrumentation of the spine. In a logical fashion he concludes the final chapters of the book with the complications of surgery. The appendices - - which include terminology and definitions, the radiographic measurements, and classifications - - are a must for the student or resident who is getting his or her first taste of involvement with the aspects of the pediatric spine. In summary, this book provides a superb current information source for student, intern, resident or fellow who has any interest in the pediatric spine. He has chosen his contributing authors well and the chapters are written with detail. In addition to the excellent manuscript, the choice of photographs, graphs, drawings and X-rays are all excellent. I certainly have to echo the words of John Hall: 'The logistics of getting these 126 authors to produce the 85 chapters before the information is obsolete would obviously daunt most editors'. Each chapter in itself, with its wellrecognized authors would be an excellent text. Collectively they make this text a very comprehensive approach to the principles of pediatric and adolescent spine treatment.
M.L. Stetten, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor University of Louisville Chief Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Kosair Children's Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky