Reliability and long-term results of ceramics in orthopaedics.

This is a book heralded as a 'simple guide to orthopaedic radiology'.Written by a renowned musculoskeletal radiologist, Sarah Burnett, and specialist registrars in both radiology and orthopaedics, it is designed as an aid for higher surgical trainees of both specialties.The contents cover a wide variety of orthopaedic conditions, listed alphabetically, as the title suggests.With the exception of 'non-accidental injury', traumatic conditions are not included, although attention is paid to the complications which arise therefrom.The layout consists of a brief description of each condition including demographics, clinical presentation and management followed by the most appropriate radiological investigation, with the characteristic changes clearly listed as 'bullet points'.Further imaging techniques are added where appropriate, and key points are highlighted with a 'key' symbol and warnings with a 'bell'.Each opposite page contains the relevant radiological image.The text is well written and includes the most important points for each condition.The quality of the illustrations is excellent, and the radiological changes are clearly shown.A lack of labelling on the illustrations is challenging, requiring effort to understand some of them.Perhaps more line drawings, as used, for example, for displaying the Graf angles in developmental dysplasia of the hip, or arrows would have helped the descriptions.Furthermore, the pathological MR images could be confusing to those unfamiliar with the normal appearance.The authors have produced a comprehensive guide and I would recommend it to both senior house officers and specialist registrars early on in their higher surgical training.It is a valuable aid both for quick reference and for revision.