Book Review

Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice

N Engl J Med 1994; 330:1691June 9, 1994

Article

Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice
Edited by Jesse C. Delee and David Drez. 2034 pp. in two volumes, illustrated. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994. $250. ISBN: 0-7216-2836-2

This two-volume work is an unparalleled, comprehensive bible for orthopedic surgeons. Its 112 contributors make up the “dream team” of sports medicine. The first 400-odd pages cover the important areas of musculoskeletal basic science, statistics on injuries, biomechanics, principles and techniques of rehabilitation, nutrition, pharmacology in sports, the female athlete, and sudden cardiac arrest. All these chapters are well organized and well written, with extensive bibliographies. Although I doubt that most orthopedists would read every word of this section, it is a terrific repository of knowledge for reference purposes. It will also enlighten nonorthopedic team physicians and other sports-medicine enthusiasts.

The orthopedic chapters are up to date and complete in their approach to each anatomical area. Each chapter covers anatomy, biomechanics, trauma, diagnosis, and the author's preferred method of treatment of the condition under discussion. This consistent format is a credit to the editors, who have treated the reader to the style of a one-author book.

The length of the chapters varies in proportion to the frequency of injury to the part of the body. For example, the section on the seldom-injured thoracic spine is shorter than that on the knee. The chapter on the knee is nearly 490 pages long, with 17 distinct sections. It omits nothing of importance. There are many excellent line drawings of specific injuries, and the x-ray films and photographs of patients and equipment are of high quality. The section on orthopedic trauma is excellent.

Over the past two decades, orthopedic surgeons have increasingly served as sports-team physicians. To play this part competently, they must master the information in these two volumes. I strongly recommend this book to such readers. However, the national trend is for more physicians in family practice, physical medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics to pursue careers in sports medicine. The portion of this book covering orthopedics is not really appropriate for them because it is too long and detailed for their purposes. There are shorter sports-medicine textbooks that fill this particular need.

In my opinion, this is the finest and most complete work ever written in the field of orthopedic sports medicine. Drs. DeLee and Drez deserve our respect and gratitude for creating this masterpiece.

William W. Southmayd, M.D.
New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA 02120-2850