The Orthopaedic Physical Examination

Standard orthopaedic textbooks (e.g. Miller, Drez and DeLee, etc) do not generally provide a sufficiently detailed description of the various clinical diagnostic manoevers to allow direct application to patient examination. This book fills in that gap and as such is an outstanding adjunct to those texts. The history and physical examination (in that order) remain the the most important diagnostic tools for evaluating musculoskeletal problems. Once you have the history, you can then select the appropriate elements of the physical exam to refine and narrow your differential diagnosis. This book does not help you with the history or understanding of pathomechanics, but it does give you an excellent overview of surface anatomy and a wide selection of diagnostic manoevers currently used to clinically diagnose ADULT musculoskelital pathology (it does not cover the pediatric musculoskeletal examination). As another reviewer noted, it also covers manoevers used to diagnose "non-organic" symptomatology (e.g. Waddell's signs, etc). The book covers basic orthopaedic terminology and anatomic terms and then discusses the physical exam by region: Shoulder/Upper arm; Elbow/Forearm; Hand/Wrist; Pelvis/Hip/Theigh; Knee; Leg/Foot/Ankle; Cervical/Thoracic spine; Lumbar spine. A glossary of orthopaedic terms and basic diagnostic manoevers follows at the end. I think that this text is currently the best available text on the musculoskeletal examination. I think that it is better than MacGee and it is way better than Hoppenfeld (which is hopelessly outdated, not being updated since 1976). It is written at the level of a physician and is highly recommended for an orthopaedic or PM & R trainee. Physical therapists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners would also find this book very helpful, but may prefer the MacGee text. I think that ER physicians and other primary care providers would be frustrated by the detail in this book and would prefer "Essentials of Musculoskeletal Care" by L. Griffin which, while somewhat limited in scope, is geared toward primary care and does discuss history, examination, laboratory tests, pathoanatomy, imaging and treatment in integrated fashion---and does cover common pediatric musculoskeletal problems.

I am an orthopaedic surgery resident and have owned or read most of the ortho exam books out there (including the always popular Hoppenfeld's). This book is by far the most inclusive of any of them, as it contains not only the most up to date exam manuvers and their meaning but also gives insight into the pathology. Furthermore, almost every disease state and every exam maneuver is illustrated with pictures. Overall the best ortho exam book out there (Hoppenfelds was written in 1976.....it doesnt contain any of the exam tests that are performed in everyday sports clinics). Would highly recommend it to any health care provider.

I've read the book several times before our Licensure Examination and it's pretty amazing how it clarify my minds regarding the assessment of orthopedic conditions.I recommend it to all students who are still reviewing for the coming examination(wherever).

As a new Physician Assistant Graduate I had to get up to speed fast when I accepted a postion with a large orthopedic group. This Book was a life saver, not only did it go over the basic anatomical postions, it covered flextion, extension, etc. all the basics were covered. The book goes on to explain why the test is done, what a positive test reveals and how to determine if it's really valid. The author even provides tests designed to reveal Patients who fake injuries and tests designed to help pin point what and where the actual pain and problem orginates. All areas of this in depth book are covered well. Photographs aid the practioner with each topic and exam, photographs are labeled to eliminate guesses and each portion of the body is contained within it's own chapter. This is a book designed for the Orthopedic practitionar.