Septic Bone and Joint Surgery

Abstract

This is an easy-to-read textbook with practical notes, tips, tricks and pitfalls highlighted in colour-coded boxes and numerous case studies. It is beautifully illustrated with more than 500 high-quality radiographic images and prints arranged as composites to provide a clear, pictorial account of the subject. These can be used in association with the text and as a revision tool. The chapters are written by authors from different backgrounds and no clear effort has been made to link these chapters together, which results in some overlap and repetition; sometimes new data are introduced in later chapters that should have been discussed earlier. From a contents point of view, the book is comprehensive in covering most aspects of diagnosis and treatment. However, it falls short with histopathologic diagnosis, which is almost neglected, whereas great emphasis has been given to diagnostic imaging. Sometimes one may question the benefits for an orthopaedic surgeon of detailed technical aspects of different imaging modalities. The references are up to date. However, it would have been more helpful if they were referred to in the text in order to differentiate between the authors' preferences and evidence from the literature. In conclusion, this accessible textbook provides good coverage of basic concepts; it occasionally lacks uniformity, organisation of ideas and evidence to support claims. Though it is not as comprehensive as it would appear, it is an ideal volume for the young orthopaedic surgeon who is starting out in the management of infection, or as a primer for someone who is coming to a stage in their career where he or she has to manage more infections or who needs to be re-acquainted with the basic principles.