Surgical textbooks are always a challenge—for authors, readers, and,
of course, critics. Invariably there are contentious issues such as lack of
breadth on a subject, poor organization of chapters, and the desire to appeal
to all readers, thus leaving some people unsatisfied. Such frailties in
medical writing are legendary. This textbook, Complex and Revision
Problems in Shoulder Surgery, is an exception to the aforementioned
literary foibles. Having had the privilege of reviewing the first edition,
published in 1997, I was immediately impressed with the quality of this latest
work. The craftsmanship, the uniformity of the graphics, and the continuity in
the narrative allow this textbook the noble position of a classic.
Disorders of the shoulder have always plagued the general orthopaedic
surgeon. Anecdotal reflections, lack of evidence-based surgeries, and lack of
clarity in reporting surgical results all have been cause for concern. In
this, the second edition, the authors have made a distinct attempt to achieve
scientific consensus on difficult problems about the shoulder. They offer a
scholarly text that is well referenced, addressing a minor criticism from the
first edition. With that being said, the editors have shown considerable
courage in prompting their contributors to offer several novel approaches.
Some of the approaches may, in fact, not stand the scientific test of time.
Such are the realities of surgical medicine.
The section on the stiff shoulder offers a complete landscape of this
difficult issue; however, the narrative becomes somewhat repetitive and, thus,
rather tedious. The section on shoulder instability, though, should receive
plaudits for being well referenced and fully comprehensive. Furthermore, the
authors should be applauded for emphasizing caution with thermal energy and
providing tactics to avoid technical errors.
This offering of Drs. Warner, Iannotti, and Flatow is an orthopaedic
beauty, and is a must-buy for orthopaedic surgeons the world over who are
dealing with difficult shoulder problems. For others, it will make a unique
and useful reference.