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"Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction."
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While the provenance of this quote from President Truman may be seen as a rationalization for the launch of the nuclear age, I would suggest that we might be able to salvage from it a remarkable bit of useful wisdom. For far too long, wound healing has been referred to strictly as "wound care." While caring for a wound (and the patient attached) is a noble pursuit, a good argument can be made for moving from "care" to "closure" and ultimately prevention of wound remission. Understanding what constitutes complete healing of both the wound and the patient is what makes this second edition of Rose Hamm's superb text so insightful both for entry-level students in the medical professions and for practicing clinicians.
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The current edition of the Text and Atlas of Wound Diagnosis and Treatment contains updated diagnostic methods, interventions and tutorials to move toward the aforementioned goal of treating and healing the patient with a wound. Chapters authored by a world-class group of interdisciplinary clinicians take the reader on a step-by-step journey through assessment to diagnosis, to therapy and to prevention of recurrence.
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In the following pages, the reader will find beautiful photographic illustrations of the causes and effects of a variety of wound diagnoses. The reader will learn about risk factors, clinical signs and timely treatment for the wound and for any underlying conditions that may be impeding wound healing. It is my firm belief that, with the collective wisdom shared in this text, we may all one day be able to heed the words of Truman—and be rightly accused of working to perfect our actions toward helping our patients with wounds move through the world with more confidence, better function, and a healthier life-style.
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David G. Armstrong, DPM, MD, PhD
Professor of Surgery and Director
Southwestern Academic Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA)
Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California