Bernard F. Morrey and Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo, editors. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. 1211 pages. $299.00. ISBN: 978-1-4160-2902-1.
In the fourth edition of The Elbow and Its Disorders, Dr. Morrey has again succeeded in accomplishing something quite difficult. Through skillful editing, he and Dr. Sanchez-Sotelo have produced a text that is both comprehensive and concise. The number of contributors is now eighty, nearly double that of the first edition. This reflects the rapid increase in knowledge about elbow disorders and their treatment since the publication of the first edition. The authors for this edition are among the most recognized in the field and present a wide range of subjects.
The text remains organized into eight sections addressing the following: Fundamentals and General Considerations, Diagnostic Considerations, Surgery and Rehabilitation, Conditions Affecting the Child's Elbow, Adult Trauma, Sports and Overuse Injuries to the Elbow, Reconstructive Procedures of the Elbow, and Septic and Nontraumatic Conditions. Each section is thorough and well referenced and provides insight into the Mayo Clinic experience, which is frequently the definitive experience in the field. The chapters are brief, easy to read, and clinically relevant.
There are several sections that merit special mention. The description of elbow rehabilitation is well presented. Chapters on bracing and continuous passive motion provide articulate reasons for, and examples of, their appropriate incorporation into treatment. The discussion of arthroplasty is divided into seventeen chapters that address an exhaustive list of indications, complications, and other issues related to elbow replacement.
New to this edition is a complete online version. The web site is user-friendly and provides links to the abstracts of referenced articles. The illustrations are as well presented online as they are in the text.
The Elbow and Its Disorders is a valuable resource for residents and attending physicians alike. It remains the definitive text on elbow surgery and is an indispensable resource for any orthopaedic surgeon treating conditions of the elbow. The book makes a handsome addition to one's library, and the online version now provides the convenience of full access on the Internet.