PHYS THER
Vol. 87, No. 7, July 2007, p. 955
DOI: 10.2522/ptj.2007.87.7.955.1
Book, Multimedia, and Software Reviews |
One Hundred Orthopedic Conditions Every Doctor Should Understand, ed 2
Meals RA, Mitchell SA, eds. St Louis, MO 63146, Quality Medical Publishing Inc, 2006, paperback, 400 pp, illus, ISBN:1-57626-235-9; $65.
The editors of this book have used unique format to provide an introduction to the management of musculoskeletal conditions. Twenty-seven contributors have illustrated sound orthopedic principles through 62 vignettes, poems, and short stories. The more common orthopedic problems, along with some less common (but potentially serious) conditions, are featured. The 290 illustrations include radiographs, drawings, and photographs that add to the clinical picture.
The first edition of this book was published in 1992. It was reviewed in JAMA in December 1992, where it was described as "a combination of Dr Seuss and O Henry." A review by Stanfield in the March 1993 issue of Physical Therapy stated, "the title...should also have included every physical therapist, student, and practitioner. Although this book would be practical as a reference, it is one of the best sources of clinical material and self-assessment tools on the market."
The second edition stays true to form. It provides a refreshing perspective on learning. The stories are written in a manner that allows the reader to develop clinical reasoning as the story describes "real world" presentations and clinical encounters. Although the story titles and presentation are light hearted, the information is sound. Each story is followed by recommendations for advanced reading that includes standard texts as well as recent journal articles. A useful chart allows the reader to pick specific joints or conditions that are of interest.
It would be all too easy to criticize this text. After all, "evidence-based" is not in the title. It is not a guide to rehabilitation and, therefore, does not provide the latest research or clinical prediction rule for treatment. What it does do is provide sound advice regarding the management of common orthopedic conditions with enough background information to aid in the development of clinical decision making. It accomplishes this in a very easy-to-read format, a format that many students and clinicians will find enjoyable. I plan on using this text for our weekly in-service education soon.
Terry Randall
T Randall, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC, is co-director and owner of Total Rehab Center, Somerset, Ky.

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Copyright © 2007 by the American Physical Therapy Association.