The Multiple Ligament Injured Knee

This is not just another book on the knee. Dr. Fanelli's book, The Multiple Ligament Injured Knee: A Practical Guide to Management, written with a team of experienced contributors, is about a subject that is pertinent, as well as often underestimated and underappreciated. The surgeon's thorough knowledge of this subject is essential for the care of the patient with multiple ligaments injured in the knee. Such knowledge is indispensable if the patient's well-being and future function are to be restored. Time, technique, judgment, and decisiveness are critical. These are the surgeon's responsibilities. We have all come to be arthroscopic knee surgeons. We cannot, however, let this diminish our judgment or skill in open surgery. Often in the multi- ply compromised knee, open surgery is a requisite. We must return to the principles that Drs. O'Donoghue, Slocum, Hughston, Trillat, Mueller-the fathers of modern knee surgery-taught us. Open exposure may be essen- tial in some cases; we must know when it is necessary. This textbook helps resolve the impasse that often occurs in this arena of evolving art and science. Young surgeons who were not there before the arthroscope might not appreciate the awful injury that frequently is associated with the mul- tiligament knee injury. We all know Dr. O'Donoghue's firm dictum that early diagnosis and anatomic repair is the best and most appropriate method of treatment. Time has not invalidated this advice.