Book reviews
Recent Advances in Orthopaedics. 5
A . Cutterall. 240 x 160 mm. Pp. 204 t t ’ i i i . Illustrated. 1986. Edinburgh:
Churchill Licingstone. f30.00.
Number 5 in the orthopaedic series contains 11 chapters, which deal
respectively with the fixation of prostheses without cement; the present
position of scintigraphy in orthopaedics; avascular necrosis of bone;
slipped epiphysis at the proximal end of the femur; ‘the problem back’;
replacements for joints in the upper limb; pain in the front of the
shoulder; clean air and antibiotics in preventing infection; the
applications of microsurgery in orthopaedics; and progress in research
into the causes of Perthe’s disease.
The articles are well written (in spite of numerous typographical
errors and spelling mistakes) and serve well their purpose of bringing up
to date, in fairly general terms, the orthopaedic surgeon who feels the
need to widen his outlook or to delve more deeply into some of the
subjects. As well as dealing with technical methods that have added
precision to diagnosis and enhanced the prospects or the quality of
improvement, the authors have presented the advances in a well
balanced way. In the chapters on the back and the shoulder, in
particular, the importance of both clinical examination and the personal
factors in diagnosis and treatment have received a well-deserved
emphasis that is not always accorded them.
P. S. London
Tendon Surgery of the Hand
J . M . Hunter. L . H . Schneider and E. J . Muckin. 284 x 220 mm. Pp. 701.
Illustrated. 1987. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications. &90.00.
The book is based on the 1984 Philadelphia tendon symposium which
brought together many of the pioneers of tendon surgery in the hand
together with those who have contributed much to the subject in recent
times. The list of authors is a Who’s W h o of those who have contributed
to this special aspect of surgery of the hand.
No facet is neglected and it contains excellent chapters on the basic
science as well as the clinical aspects of the primary surgery and
reconstruction. The techniques of rehabilitation are described by the
latest ancilliaries to aid the hand surgeon, namely, the hand therapists
drawn from physiotherapists and occupational therapy disciplines who
have done so much to improve the quality of the results and contributed
a great deal t o the detailed assessment of the hand before and after
surgery.
Apart from a comprehensive cover of all aspects of tendon surgery of
both the flexors and extensors an interesting feature included is the panel
discussions of the various aspects of tendon surgery which synthesize
much wise and erudite opinion and the cumulative experience of those
taking part.
It is fitting that Guy Pulvertaft of Derby’s photograph, with the
caption ‘a friend and teacher to us all’, appears before the foreword. His
recent death is a great loss to us all who so valued his wise counsel and
incomparable experience. It is a great pity he did not see this volume of
which he would have been justly proud for it expresses the ‘state of the
art’ in a difficult subject and unlike most books is right up-to-date.
It will repay anyone who has to deal with injuries or reconstructive
surgery of the hand to read it carefully and to savour the content of this
excellent book.
B. Helal
Br. J. Surg., Vol. 74, No. 7, July 1987
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy for Renal Stone Disease
P . Gravenstein. 242x 160 mm. Pp. 158. Illustrirted. 1986. London:
Butterworths. E l 9 S O .
Changes in the surgical management of renal stones are occurring so
rapidly that it is very difficult for any book t o be published before it is
out-of-date. The Editors and the Publisher must be congratulated for
bringing together a group of experts who, between them, cover the
clinical and technical aspects of Extracorporeal Shock Wave
Lithotripsy (ESWL)in a comprehensiveand authoritative way. The first
section, dealing with the historical and the technical background, is easy
to read, although some of the physics would be difficult for a clinician to
understand fully. Nevertheless, this section provides useful and
important information for all those involved in treating patients with
lithotripsy. The clinical section includes a chapter on a urological aspect
of lithotripsy and more extensive coverage of the specialized anaesthetic
techniques that have evolved. A study comparing the anxiety
engendered in patients undergoing different methods of stone removal
confirms the acceptability of ESWL to patients.
The final section covers the possible complications of ESWL,
particularly cardiovascular problems. The safety of the procedure is
confirmed and thoughtful prophylactic measures in high risk patients
are discussed.
This book will be a useful addition to the library of all urological
departments. Urologists in training and those actively involved in
lithotripsy might also consider the modest financial outlay to be
worthwhile.
H. Whitfield
Manual of Vascular Access Procedures
7: Matsumoto, S. Simonian and A . M . Kholoussy. 150 x 225 mm. Pp. 118.
Illustruted. 1987. Hemel Hempstead: Simon ond Scfiuster. f32.05.
Ifanyone doubts that English and American are two different languages,
this book should convince them. It gives the firm impression of having
been dictated in American rather than written in English and this
unfortunately spoils the impact of the extensive and detailed coverage of
access procedures for haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and
chemotherapy which it contains. ‘This is versus the 7 times more efficient
normal kidneys’ (page 3 ) is but one example of the tortured grammar
and confused (and confusing) punctuation that make the book so
uncomfortable to read. This is a shame, because contained within only
1 18 pages are descriptions of a wide range of surgical techniques. Section
one covers vascular access for acute and chronic dialysis and procedures
for peritoneal dialysis. Many of the descriptions are detailed and
excellent, but there are aberrations-for example Thomas and Allen-
Brown shunts (rarely used in this country) are given great emphasis,
whilst the more common ankle shunt merits only half a line, which
incorrectly suggests the use of the short saphenous vein. The description
on page 29 of a side-to-side anastomosis is also wrong. Section two
covers long term intravascular access for p a r e n t e d nutrition and
chemotherapy, and describes Hickman and Broviac catheters,
implantable systems such as the Port-A-Cath, and subcutaneous
infusion pumps. As before, the information is good, the text clumsy, and
the line drawings excellent. The photographs, unfortunately, are
unhelpful. I wouldn’t buy the book, but I would be happy for my
registrars to read it were it to be in the library.
C. Rudge
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