This book is written expressly for the medical student. It is multiauthored, but the chapters are well coordinated with little overlap. There are 14 chapters, the first 7 of which are general in nature. The latter 7 chapters deal with specific areas such as the spine, shoulder, foot and ankle. The book is well laid out and lavishly illustrated.
The authors are to be congratulated for their innovative use of algorithms for diagnosis and treatment. This allows the medical student to see at a glance what the likely diagnosis is and how to treat the condition. The authors are also to be commended for cautioning the use of imaging studies. They indicate that, with respect to the back, CT scans and MR images are abnormal in 30% of totally asymptomatic patients and that if surgery is based only on scans, there is a 30% chance that the patient will be subjected to an unnecessary, unsuccessful operation. It is good to see this clearly and forcefully stated. Also, the authors rightly debunk several widely used procedures, such as trigger point injections and epidural injection of steroids.
I found this book enjoyable reading and I recommend it as an excellent addition to any medical student’s library. Indeed, many general practitioners will find this book of value, particularly in its discussions of investigative techniques and reasonable treatments.