Any trainee in a particular speciality needs a comprehensive and reliable textbook, to help them through their training and beyond. For the orthopaedic trainee, this three volume collection is certainly worthy of consideration. Containing over 3000 pages, it represents exceptional value for money, especially when one considers that it is common to see speciality texts available at five times this price. Of course a book can only truly be regarded as value for money if the content is of an acceptable standard. In this respect the book excels. Edited by a trans-Atlantic team, and with over 300 specialist chapter authors, the writing style is easy to follow and informative. The book is divided into five major sections: fundamental science with bone tumours, adult orthopaedics, adult trauma, paediatric orthopaedics and paediatric trauma. The chapters are systematically laid out and generously illustrated. Each chapter is also exhaustively referenced, enabling those who may wish to obtain original papers the opportunity to do so. There are also useful ‘summary tables’ within each chapter and respective subsections, which are of particular benefit when preparing for examinations. This book is more than adequate for preparing teaching sessions on any of the common orthopaedic and trauma subjects commonly covered at junior and senior trainee teaching sessions. The only disadvantage of the book, if indeed this can be considered a disadvantage, is the sheer size of it – it truly is a weighty tome!
In summary this is a fully comprehensive textbook covering all of the major orthopaedic and trauma topics, which would prove adequate throughout the orthopaedic trainee's career and beyond. In the context of what you get for the cost, it should be thought of as an inexpensive addition to the trainee's collection.