Preface

The seventh edition updates the information and bibliography provided in the previous versions and includes more case studies and a reorganization of various chapters.

Neuromusculoskeletal disorders continue to be a significant contributor to disability and healthcare costs worldwide as the population continues to age. This financial burden increases pressure on the orthopaedic clinician to achieve a health outcome relative to the costs incurred, which emphasizes outcomes such as patient satisfaction and accurate measures of clinical outcomes, a value-based system.

All clinicians must be lifelong students of their profession and strive toward a process of continual self-education by utilizing the expertise of more experienced clinicians and numerous valuable resources, including continuing education and home-study courses, watching videos specializing in techniques, and observing exceptional clinicians who demonstrate excellent technical skills, combined with excellent people skills, including interest, acceptance, and empathy.

One must also remember that the patient can be the most valuable resource, as each interaction is an opportunity to increase knowledge, skill, and understanding.

This book aims to provide healthcare students and clinicians with a systematic and evidence-based approach to the orthopaedic patient by incorporating the most reliable available concepts.