Professor B.G. WEBER has once again and in a very timely fashion produced a superb book on an orthopaedic subject of great importance. "The Extemal Fixator" is the most comprehensive text on the subject in orthopaedic literature to date. Professor WEBER thoroughly discusses extemal fixation with c1arity, organization, profuse illustrations and roentgenograms. Professor WEBER acknowledges that the use of extemal fixation in orthopaedic surgery is not newand traces its history over the years. He points out c1early the fact that though at various times the "method" has experienced periods of disrepute, modem sophistication, improved technology and a better understanding of its philosophy have given the system a newand perhaps permanent place in the armamentarium of the orthopaedic surgeon. All methods of treatment have critics as well as supporters, and not infrequently the strongest criticisms are the result of poor understanding of the philosophy proposed and its proper implementation. Professor WEBER, in his carefully detailed and well illustrated book, has made it abundantly c1ear that the use of extemal fixators in the treatment of fractures must be c1early understood by the orthopaedic surgeon in order to obtain satisfactory clinical results. His discussion of its philosophy, pathomechanics and technology are most comprehensive and leave "no stone untumed" and because of this the book represents a most comprehensive text on the subject.

This book has become necessary as a consequence of the rapid expansion of the surgical procedures and implants available for spinal surgery within the "AO Group". We have not attempted to write an in-depth book on spinal surgery, but one which will help the surgeon in the use of AO concepts and implants. We con sider the practical courses held all over the world essential for the teaching of sound techniques so that technical complications and poor results can be avoid ed for both the surgeon and, in particular the patient. This book is a practical manual and an outline of what is taught in the courses. It is intended to help the young spinal surgeon to understand the correct use of AO implants. The indi- tions given will aid the correct use of each procedure. . It must be strongly emphasized that surgery of the spine is technically de manding. The techniques described in this book should only be undertaken by surgeons who are trained and experienced in spinal surgery. Certain techniques, in particular pedicle screw fIxation and cages, have not yet been fully approved by the FDA in the United States. However, throughout the rest of the world, the use of pedicle screws has become a standard technique for the spine surgeon, since it has been shown to improve fIxation techniques and allow segmental correction of the spine. The use of cages has become more and more popular, specifIcally as a tool of minimally invasive spinal surgery.

Die Stabilisierung von Knochenfragmenten mit Hilfe eines Fixateur externe geht wa- scheinlich auf LAMBOTTE (1902) zuruck. Der Fixateur externe ist jedoch noch nicht im gleichen Masse zum Durchbruch gekommen, wie die geschlossene Frakturenbehandlung nach BoeHLER, W ATSON-JONES, SARMIENTO und die stabilen Osteosynthesen. Aber auch die operative Frakturbehandlung hat erst 1958 durch die Schweizerische Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen AO weltweite Verbreitung gefunden. Dabei ist die AO-Technik von deren Autoren MuLLER, ALLGOEWER und WILLENEGGER zu keiner Zeit etwa als allein richtige Methode verstanden worden, und in ihrem Buch "Technik der operativen Frakturenbehandlung", Springer-Verlag 1963, steht im Vorwort: "Wir koennen nicht genug warnen vor Osteosynthesen, die ohne entsprechende Schulung des Chirurgen und ohne notwendige technische Voraussetzungen bezuglich Instrumentarium und Asepsis im Operationsbetrieb durchgefuhrt werden ... ". Die Gefahren der direkten Osteosynthese haben die konservative Behandlung in modifizierter Form reaktiviert, so dass heute das "functional bracing" nach SARMIENTO vielerorts genauso oft Anw- dung findet, wie die AO-Technik.