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Injwy Vol. 27. No. 5, pp. 365-366, 1996 Copyright 0 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Printed in Great Britain 002s1383/96 $15.00 + 0.00

Book reviews

Injury, Vol. 27, No. 5, 365-366, 1996

ABC of Emergency Radiology. D. A. Nicholson and I’. A. Driscoll. BMJ Publishing Group, London. 0-7279- 0832-4. f14.95,1995, lllpp.

This is a collaborative product from the specialties of Radiology and Accident and Emergency for the ABC series from the BMI. With the help of other relevant specialists in orthopaedics, respiratory medicine and maxillofacial surgery, it aims to increase the radiological diagnostic efficiency of injuries and decrease mis-diagnosis, inappropriate investigation and poten- tial hazard to patients.

It is aimed for the use of all those concerned with the reception and management of the injured and acutely ill patient. It is a book for practical, on-the-spot use and for reading throughout such posts, as a system of examination of emergency trauma radio- graphs and a source of succinct guidlines for detecting abnormal- ities. The book confines itself to emergency plain X-rays alone without reference to specialized investigations such as tomogra- phy, isotope, CT or MRI scans.

In keeping with the title, it provides a systematic approach to X-ray interpretation, but is not a list or catalogue of all possible fracture types, names, classifications or treatments. A guideline method is encouraged from which the physician can detect abnormality and then make further informed decisions. It is in a way like the ‘ATLS’ of X-ray interpretation.

Chapter headings are clearly demarcated by body region and the text is kept to the essential core. Each begins with a brief review of the relevant anatomy, mechanism of injury and a line diagram of a normal radiograph identifying salient normal anatomical landmarks. Separate sections help to identify common pitfalls and catches to be avoided by describing errors often made due to artefacts or normal variants, but again, is not intended as a dictionary of the latter. The common special views are described, as relevant to the region concerned, with reasons, indications and again guidance from accurate line diagrams to clinical and anatomical significance. Of particular note are the chapters on spinal injury and maxillofacial which often present difficulty to the inexperienced (and experienced) eye. Chest and abdominal chapters contain essential guidelines for the interpre- tation of not only injuries but also general medical and surgical emergency radiographs.

This is a book for the staff on the casualty front desk to consult for immediate access and should probably have been made in hardback to withstand its use. It provides a comprehensive system of appraisal of the main diagnostic tool of injuries (after the use of eyes, ears and hands) and of chest and abdominal emergencies. Special mention should be given to the quality of reproduction of X-rays and the excellent system of accompany- ing line diagrams for accurate explanation without lines of text.

James P. Holland

Practical Orthopaedics. Lonnie R. Mercier. Mosby Year Book, St Louis. 0-8151-5903-X, f46.00, 1995, 512~~.

Practical Orfhapaedics describes itself as ‘one of the most useful orthopaedics books written for non orthopaedists’ yet has much to offer those moving into the early phase of their orthopaedic training. It attempts to cover the huge subjects of both trauma and orthopaedics from diagnosis to management within one volume, a task in which it largely succeeds.

Chapters are generally well formatted starting with an anatomical review, a description of the examination (with supplementary and unusual physical tests that can be applied during the clinical examination), X-ray examination and a discussion of the pathology and treatment of each region. Specialist chapters exist on the arthritides, sports medicine and radiological investigation. The day-to-day algorithms for dif- ferential diagnosis and subsequent treatment summarize much information in compact and easy to follow pathways. It is packed with X-rays, clinical photos and MRI scans. Quality line drawings, illustrating everything from anatomy to fracture reduction fill each chapter. Its aims of practical management include excellent illustrations of exercise programmes and even splint fitting.

Overall, this book is a good easy read and a valuable mini-reference book for the non-orthopaedist.

Marcus Green

Outcome Measures in Trauma. By P. B. Pynsent, J. C. T. Fairbank, A. J. Carr. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. 0 75061653 9. f35.00.1994,387 pp.

Outcomes are of considerable importance to anyone practising medicine. They have become more important recently with the need to produce valid audit figures and objective standards by which any practising surgeon or surgical unit can produce standard comparators. The present volume is an attempt to facilitate this process for the individual, and outcome measures are discussed for 25 different topics within injury surgery including both bony and non-bony topics. Thus there are separate sections given over to pain, head injuries, thoracic injuries, abdominal injuries, burns and urological injuries in addition to bony injuries and peripheral nerve injuries.

The volume has not been written in the usual fashion but rather each of the series of contributors has prepared a chapter on a given topic. This chapter has then been the subject of two days of discussion and modification and the resulting chapters therefore represent a cross-section with contributions of up to 12 people. The result should be invaluable for any department attempting to audit the end result of its treatments for injuries. Firstly the book provides measures by which individual cases can be assessed and secondly each topic is covered by an extensive bibliography for further reading. The end result is an authoritat-