Staying out of trouble in pediatric orthopaedics

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British volumeVol. 89-B, No. 1 Book ReviewsFree AccessStaying out of trouble in pediatric orthopaedics Edited by D. L. Skaggs, J. M. Flynn Pp. 320. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2006. ISBN: 0-7817-5335-X.P. CalderP. CalderSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:1 Jan 2007https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.89B1.0890144bAboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsAdd to Favourites ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail Avoiding complications and pitfalls is one of the primary goals in the line of orthopaedic surgery. I was therefore excited when asked to review “Staying out of trouble..” hoping for a concise collection of tips and advice in the treatment of this broad, demanding subject. I was not disappointed. Although written for an American audience the book is aimed primarily at general orthopaedic surgeons who see children occasionally. It focuses on common paediatric conditions and less common ones which, if not recognised, can end in disastrous results and likely litigation!With the book’s remit, an in-depth review of the topic is hardly achievable. The format of the text is 25 chapters divided into five sections, covering basic assessment and dealing with families, trauma, special maladies, spine and hip, with lower extremity conditions completing the line up. Each chapter is short and easy to read. The text is supplemented with fantastic clinical pictures, line diagrams, radiographs, and tables, all used to highlight the relevant teaching point. Perhaps the best educational tool is the addition of the “guru” caption. Each chapter has a named expert whose advice is built on experience in each subject, equivalent to those priceless tips passed on over a beer at the bar at the end of a meeting. Each chapter ends with an excellent summary of the chapter with bullet points, references and bibiography for further reading.I think both the idea of this book and the final product are excellent. A recent review suggests that the number of paediatric orthopaedic consultants in the United Kingdom is diminishing. We may be obliged to adopt a hub and spoke model, with centres of excellence receiving referrals from the periphery. This book would be an invaluable addition to the library available to those practices dealing with fewer paediatric cases. Paediatric orthopaedics contributes a significant part of the current exit examination and I would strongly recommend this book to specialist registrars as an enjoyable, easy revision aid. Ultimately not every piece of advice can be given in a single text, but the authors encourage all to submit their pearls of wisdom for future editions. I will look forward to their future; as there will always be new tricks to learn.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Vol. 89-B, No. 1 Metrics History Published online 1 January 2007 Published in print 1 January 2007 InformationCopyright © 2007, The British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery: All rights reservedPDF download