Br. J. Surg. Vol. 62 (1975) 415-420

Reviews and notices of books Orthopaedic Surgery Edward L . Compere, Cdifornia. 210 x 145 mm. Pp. 323, with 90 illustrations. 1974. London: Lloyd-Lake. f12.15. T , , ~ is misleading; this is essentially a handbook of operative surgery. The operations that the author has employed

As indicated, revision has been extensive-even the reference to ‘catgut blisters’ has been updated! Newer techniques such as laparoscopy and vacuum curettage receive mention. and the personal interests of one of the editors in medical defence can be detected in reference to medicolegal aspects in at least one

in his own practice are described, but many that are part of the standard orthopaedic repertoire are omitted. This policy seriously impairs the usefulness of the handbook. For many orthopaedic disabilities a number of operations are available and the selection of the correct procedure requires careful judgement. A trainee surgeon will look in vain for this informa- tion and will find the description of some of the techniques inadequate, though this is remedied to some degree by the numerous illustrations.

The reviewer is at odds with a number of statements. I n anterior arthrodesis of the cervical spine, the trachea, oeso- phagus and thyroid gland are retracted medially, not laterally. A medial meniscectomy, as here described, becomes a major attack on the knee joint, which is not necessary for the average bucket handle tear.

The final chapter on ‘Errors and safeguards in orthopaedic surgery’ contains both good and bad advice. Volkmann’s conlracture is usually caused by an arterial injury and not venous stasis, and the release of tight dressings and plaster may not be adequate. A surgeon who follows the instructions in the paragraph on ‘Amputation and the certainty of the diag- nosis or malignancy’ may be tempted to delay amputation for il malignant tumour because of equivocal radiographic appearances or the absence of severc pain, when the histological diagnosis is not in doubt.

R. B A R N E S

Bonney’s Gynaecological Surgery Edited John Howkings, London, and Sir John Stallworthy3 London. Eighth edition. 234 x 155 mm. Pp. 868-tx, with 507 illusrrations. 1974. London: Bailli2re Tindall. fl l . PREVIOUS editions of this textbook on operative gynaecology have been regarded internationally as major reference works. Undoubtedly Bonney must be recognized as one of the great men of surgery, and perhaps the one who contributed most to thc development of techniques of gynaecological surgery. The cditors in their preface regard this eighth edition as ‘possibly the final tribute of two pupils to their master, Victor Bonney’, and certainly this edition lives up to its past reputation and indeed shows valuable innovations.

Despite quite drastic revision, some original text from previous editions, including the opening chapter on general operative considerations, can be found and many of the illustrations arc still Bonney’s originals. Human frailties in the editorial proccss creep into the best-organized volumes, and the reviewer found this no exception when, by chance, he discovered the interchange of captions between Figs. 145 and 146.

It is ten years since the last edition and this new volume reflects well the changes in thought and practice over this period. A good example of the revision is the chapter on ‘The radical abdominal operation for carcinoma of the cervix’ which now contains a very full account of the use and resu:ts of radiotherapy in association with surgery.

The last three chapters of the seventh edition have been dropped (blood transfusion, water and electrolytes in gynaeco- logical surgery, radiotherapy of gynaecological conditions) and one chapter (31) now replaces two separate chapters on post- operative complications-general. The new chapter on ‘Post- operative complications: cardiovascular system’ is more or less unchanged in the first part but then goes on to include an excellent contribution on thrombo-embolism written by John Bonnar.

cnapter. This is a n excellent book and must still be one of the best

works on gynaecological surgery in the world. Certainly it should be available in the surgeons’ rooms of general surgical and gynaecological departments alike, where it will surely give information, advice and possibly comfort to the surgeons faced by an unexpected gynaecological emergency.

D. V. I . FAIRWEATHER

Practical Surgical Management A. M . C . Macgregor, Florida. Second edition. 180 x 120 mm. Pp. I50 + ix. 1974. Edinburgh: Churchill Lioingstone. fl.50. THIS little book is full of useful information and fits snugly into a white coat pocket. These are two essential requirements for a book designed for house surgeons.

The arrangement is logical and the first chapter on ‘Pre- operative management’ consists largely of check-lists of investigations that may be required. ‘Organisation of theatre’ follows and is brief and to the point. ‘Post-operativc manage- ment’ is dealt with next and again is composed of lists of such things as when to remove drains, drips, sutures and indications of recovery or complications, etc. ‘Fluid and electrolyte management’ followed by ‘Intensive care’ complete the section dealing with the care associated with operation. Another very brief chapter, this time dealing with ‘Administration’ is followed by one entitled ‘Data’. The data referred to are a collection of normal values for haematology, blood and urinary chemistry, CSF and various other tests. All this information is useful, mainly accurate and helpful if some of the qualifications necessary to interpret this kind of information are remembered. Finally there is a chapter on ‘Drugs’ which is by no means complete but a useful starting point nevertheless.

The main point of such a book as this is to provide a frame- work around which the idiosyncrasies peculiar to a particular job can be built. With this point in mind perhaps a little spare space consisting of a few blank pages for notes and jottings would be helpful. Perhaps also in the next edition a note about SI units might be included, but with these two suggestions made, the book is recommended as a good buy for the house surgeon at the beginning of his job.

C. WASTELL

Transfusion of Blood Preserved by Freezing S. Suinidn, Fukirokn, Japan. 255 x 180 mtn. Pp. 92+xi r , with 117 illustrations. 1974. Stuttgart: Georg Thieme Verlag. DM.58. THIS elegantly produced monograph is an account of how Dr Sumida organized the first frozen blood bank in Japan. Inspired by an address given by that singular pioneer, Dr Charles Huggins of Boston, at a meeting of the Japan Society for Blood Transfusion in 1965, Dr Sumida lost no time in visiting Massachusetts General Hospital where he acquired the necessary skills and knowledge to set up a replica of the Huggins system for handling frozen cells for transfusion in Fukuoka.

For anyone wishing to follow his example, here is an explicit step-by-Ltep description of the method, illustrated with excellent photographs and simple diagrams. The author has reappraised each step of the procedure by his own laboratory and clinical investigations, and a particularly interesting chapter is devoted to original observations on the changing morphology of red and white blood cells under the cryo- microscope.

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