Functional Fracture Bracing

At the writing of this book, the United States is in the midst of an intense public debate concerning a widely perceived need for reform of the Health Care Delivery System. The reform is primarily aimed at the provision of medical insurance to a large segment of the population currently deprived of that coverage and to the reduction of the escalating costs of medical care. Solutions to the existing problems have been elusive because the causes of the dilemma are multifactorial, complex, and diffucult to identify clearly. There is, however, general consensus that the use and abuse of technology has played a major role in the growing costs of medical care. The importance of fracture care in the overall financing of the health care reform is significant, since injuries to the musculoskeletal system are responsible for a very large percentage of the general expenditures in this area. The cost is not limited to hospitalization and professional services, but also impacts the economy with tempo rary or permanent interruption of individual productivity.

Written by pioneering leaders in the development of functional fracture bracing systems, this manual is a practical "how-to" guide to the use of these systems for fractures of the upper and lower limb. Drs. Sarmiento and Latta explain the indications and contraindications for functional bracing, show how to place and remove the brace, and offer detailed advice on patient instruction, rehabilitation, follow-up, expected outcome, and prevention and management of complications. The book is thoroughly illustrated with more than 400 step-by-step photographs and contains patient information sheets that can be copied and handed out to patients.

The purpose of this book is to report on my 17 years of experience in the development and implementation of a closed functional method of treatment of certain fractures of long bones of the appendicular skeleton. My personal experiences, clinical results, and the basic concepts underlying the treatment philosophy are reported. Illustrations demonstrating the techniques of application of functional casts and braces are presented in detail as well as a step-by-step description of the management regime and a discussion of the behavior of fractures under this system. Indications and contraindications for the use of this method of treatment are clearly outlined. I consider it important to compile this information for I believe that the system has withstood the test of time and is sufficiently sound to be incorporated in the armamentarium of the orthopaedic surgeon. Also, it may have a favorable socioeconomic impact since it offers a viable alternative in the treatment of frac tures.

This quick-reference guide is the first book written specifically for the many third- and fourth-year medical students rotating on an orthopedic surgery service. Organized anatomically, it focuses on the diagnosis and management of the most common pathologic entities. Each chapter covers history, physical examination, imaging, and common diagnoses. For each diagnosis, the book sets out the typical presentation, options for non-operative and operative management, and expected outcomes. Chapters include key illustrations, quick-reference charts, tables, diagrams, and bulleted lists. Each chapter is co-authored by a senior resident or fellow and an established academic physician and is concise enough to be read in two or three hours. Students can read the text from cover to cover to gain a general foundation of knowledge that can be built upon when they begin their rotation, then use specific chapters to review a sub-specialty before starting a new rotation or seeing a patient with a sub-specialty attending. Practical and user-friendly, Orthopedic Surgery Clerkship is the ideal, on-the-spot resource for medical students and practitioners seeking fast facts on diagnosis and management. Its bullet-pointed outline format makes it a perfect quick-reference, and its content breadth covers the most commonly encountered orthopedic problems in practice.

This illustrated textbook is an essential and invaluable guide to young clinicians and researchers of Trauma and Orthopaedics, reporting all classification systems which are currently utilised in the clinical setting. It includes classifications relevant to both Elective Orthopaedic Practice and Orthopaedic Trauma. Clear graphic illustrations accompany the description of all different classification schemes in a comprehensive manner, together with a structured presentation of existing clinical evidence. In this manner each chapter of the different anatomical sites and pathologies assists the decision making of the readers regarding treatment strategy as well as informed consent of their patients. It is envisaged that this textbook will be a point of reference not only to the surgeons in training (residents) but also to senior surgeons and academic clinicians.