Practicing orthopaedic surgeons continue to struggle with the difficulty of
treating patients who present with persistent, reproducible pain in the
absence of a clear diagnosis after standard diagnostic procedures. In this
well-organized and extremely well-illustrated textbook, Dr. McCarthy, a
clearly recognized leader in hip disorders, and his contributors provide a
complete review of differential diagnoses, physical findings, and imaging
options for a wide range of early but disabling hip disorders. For this
reason, Early Hip Disorders is a helpful resource not only for those
with an interest in the technical aspects of arthroscopy itself but also for
all orthopaedic surgeons who deal with what can be perplexing hip
symptoms.
We have all followed with great interest the evolution of arthroscopic
surgery of the hip; however, most of us remain unclear as to the indications
for such surgery, the significance of the findings during surgery, and the
results that can be expected with arthroscopic treatment. These issues as well
as information regarding preparation, anatomic considerations, anesthesia,
patient positioning, operative techniques, and specialized equipment are all
covered in "Operative Preparation," which is Section II of this
book. The other, equally fine sections of this textbook are "The Painful
Hip" (Section I), "Hip Joint Disorders" (Section III), and
"Functional Outcomes" (Section IV). Together, these sections
provide an excellent, abundantly illustrated review of the various disorders
of the hip joint, followed by further reviews of rehabilitation,
complications, functional outcomes, and future directions.
In the current age of Internet-based acquisition of knowledge in
orthopaedic surgery, there remains a clear need for textbooks that help us
consolidate the current understanding and techniques of an evolving
technology. The authors have done an excellent job of condensing their
understanding of early disorders and arthroscopic procedures of the hip and
have provided us with a clear perspective and knowledge base. Most, if not
all, practicing surgeons will find that the information contained in this
excellent text is very useful in their daily evaluation and treatment of
patients who have hip pain.