jss1
Registered User
Posts: 6
(3/4/01 9:36:06 pm)
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What is a good "intern level" ortho book?
I am going into my ortho internship in July and was wondering what book (e.g. review book or basics
book)I purchase to begin to learn more orthopaedics (i.e. not Campbell's). Obviously, I am needing a
book to build an ortho foundation and preferably one that I can carry around and read on down time
during some off-service rotations. Thanks.
OrthoDoc
ezOP
Posts: 35
(3/4/01 9:50:55 pm)
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Re: What is a good "intern level" ortho book?
I would suggest buying Orthopaedic Surgery: The Essentials edited by Baratz. The goal of the book is to
provide the core knowledge of orthopedics and is an excellent book to read from cover to cover for
orthopedic residents. If you have time to read the whole thing prior to your second year, you will be well
beyond most of your peers in core information. I have personally read the book and also find it useful for
an "orthopedic review" for those of us who may have been out of general orthopedics for a while.
Underdog1974
Registered User
Posts: 16
(3/7/01 11:50:08 am)
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Books that Every Ortho Resident Should Have?
In addition to the intern-level book, above, do you have a list of "Top 10" orthopaedic texts that every
resident should not be without? I know this is a broad question, but perhaps is there anything else you
might recommend for the eager "to-be" resident? I understand many residency programs supply their
residents with book money. It would be nice to know ahead of time what sort of texts to take a close
look at.
In addition, are there any particular journals you might recommend as required reading? Obviously, JBJS
(American) is a great resource. Is there anything else that is popular reading for ortho residents?
Thanks in advance for your replies.
CS
Registered User
Posts: 11
(3/7/01 4:28:36 pm)
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Baratz book and other opinions
As one "to-be" to another -
I got this book while on an away rotation on the recommendation of a 2nd year resident, but I don't
think much of it. It doesn't seem to cover things very completely nor is it particularly succinct. And it
wasn't cheap.
I really like a little book I photocopied (I think it's out of print) that covers all the fractures with about 2
pgs on each with mechanism, radiographs, classification and tx. Small enough to carry around. Can't
remember the title though. I also like the Secrets book - read 2 or 3 questions before you fall asleep at
night - and the OKU books - photocopy a chapter and drag it around with you until you read it.
I like my books to be cookbooks/outlines. For depth, controversies and immediacy, journal articles are
better and more portable, too. Any program that has electronic JBJS access and free printing
understands that convenience is the key to keeping your residents reading. Too bad the older articles
aren't full text.
Another great convenience is how CORR has a bunch of articles on the same topic so you can check out
just one small volume and not have to photocopy 10 articles from 10 different journals. Love that.
OrthoDoc
ezOP
Posts: 37
(3/7/01 10:30:59 pm)
Reply
Re: Books that Every Ortho Resident Should Have?
The problem with having a bunch of books is that they come out with new editions every several years.
Therefore, I would not rush out to buy books, but to see when the next editions are coming out so you
don't waste $500 on a set of books that will soon be out of date. As a resident, the most valuable books
at home for me were Hoppenfeld's Surgical Exposures, Campbell's Operative Orthopedics, OKUs, Miller
Review, Orthopaedic Basic Science, and Schatzker's Rationale of Operative Fracture Care. Some residents
suggest having a trauma set at home like Rockwood & Green or Skeletal Trauma, but I found that I had
no time to read them at home while on the trauma service and usually read intermittently during the day
in our library.
The most valuable journal is the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. This is a
review journal published 6x/year and has nice articles on a variety of topics. Once you are a member of
AAOS it is part of the membership.
JBJS is a staple for most orthopedic residencies, but the journal has evolved to become more of an
arthroplasty journal and is not as broad as it has been in the past. However, I would still subscribe to it
as a resident b/c many of the OITE questions come from JBJS.
I probably wouldn't subscribe to any other journals b/c there is only some much reading time in a busy
orthopedic residency. I would recommend utilizing medline often for unusual cases and copy and read
relative articles from a variety of sources. If you stick to just textbooks, you will remain in the past and
not be up on the latest techniques.
