Book Reviews

Review by Vincent J. Felitti, MD, Associate Editor

Everyday practice requires more training in musculoskeletal problems than most internists and family practitioners have ever received. Dr. Bruce Anderson of the Department of Orthopedics at Northwest Permanente has written a helpful little book that actually provides more than its title implies. Although it graphically displays injection or arthrocentesis techniques for treating musculoskeletal conditions affecting 63 separate locations of the body, the book also succinctly summarizes each condition, specifies the range and sequence of appropriate treatments, and discusses as well as depicts the injection technique, size of needle, and dosage of medication used.

Discussion of aftercare is particularly helpful. The end of the book includes usefully arranged tables of oral and injectable anti-inflammatory drugs, a brief discussion of current laboratory tests used in rheumatologic diagnosis, a comparative description of synovial fluid analysis in various conditions, and bibliographic references. Several pages describing the purpose of various radiographic techniques are also helpful.

This book delivers more than its size suggests. Physicians who wish to learn skills for joint injection or to improve or expand their present injection skills will benefit from its use.

House Officer's Guide to Arthrocentesis and Soft Tissue Injection. Bruce Carl Anderson, MD. Portland: JJ&R Medical Publishing; 1997. 2nd ed.

Softcover $12.95. 248 pages.

To Summer 1999 Table of Contents >>