Sponseller PD, Frassica FJ, Wenz JF Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2002 $79.95 ISBN 0-7817-3876-8 Once only a curiosity to “show-and-tell” on rounds, the personal data assistant (PDA) has rapidly integrated itself into the practice of emergency medicine. By providing a rapid, convenient, highly organized source of medical knowledge, the PDA and its myriad software applications have flourished. One of the latest software applications, Sponseller's The 5-Minute Orthopaedic Consult for PDA addition to Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Mobile Medicine series, is reviewed here. The program is superbly organized. For the neophyte to orthopedics, the first section covers fundamental concepts of orthopedics, including clinically relevant anatomy, examination, diagnostic procedures, and general principles of fracture management. This section is useful as a concise introduction for the busy intern encountering orthopedic emergencies for the first time. The second section addresses specific orthopedic entities, including traumatic, acquired, congenital, neoplastic, infectious, metabolic, and rheumatologic disorders. Each topic is divided into basics, diagnosis, and management. The “Basics” section includes a description of the pathologic process, synonyms, incidence, genetics, classification, causes, risk factors, associated conditions, and International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes. The “Diagnosis” section covers signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis, physical examination, laboratory tests, pathologic findings, imaging procedures, and special tests. The “Management” section addresses general measures, medical and surgical management, physical therapy, monitoring, patient education, prevention, complications, and prognosis. Each topic concludes with a “recommended reading” list. Although The 5-Minute Orthopaedic Consult for PDA can be a handy resource for the practicing emergency physician, it does have some shortcomings. There is a section called “Figures” with images that are, unfortunately, not available for the Palm handheld device; only the captions are displayed. The last section, entitled “Tables,” includes only 2 topics and adds virtually nothing to the application. The “recommended reading” list, although extensive, is not as current as it could be, with most of the citations 5 to 10 years old, and none more recent than 1998. Furthermore, step-by-step instructions and diagrams on how to reduce and splint fractures and dislocations in the emergency department are noticeably absent from this program. For example, for traumatic dislocation of the hip, the program states that “regardless of the direction of the dislocation, reduction can be attempted with in-line traction and the patient lying supine.” The authors fail to mention the 90 degrees of flexion or bilateral iliac crest countertraction required for this maneuver. Alternative methods of reduction are not described. Finally, the topics of shoulder dislocation and pelvic fracture-dislocation have been omitted entirely. Instruction in emergency orthopedic procedures is of paramount importance to the solo practicing emergency physician facing these challenges. An additional section covering this material would make this program much more attractive. As it stands, the application is best suited for physicians not trained in emergency medicine who prefer a “hands off” approach. In conclusion, I recommend The 5-Minute Orthopaedic Consult for PDA for practitioners who consider themselves unfamiliar with orthopedic diseases and their management. Although this application would probably be useful for the emergency medicine resident in training, I think it adds little to the practice of a board-certified emergency physician. The textbook Emergency Orthopedics1Simon RR Koenigsknecht SJ. Emergency Orthopedics.4th ed. McGraw-Hill Publishing, New York, NY2000Google Scholar is a much better source of information. Perhaps the editors will remedy the deficiencies I have highlighted in the next edition of The 5-Minute Orthopaedic Consult for PDA.