The German edition of our book entitled "Operative Frakturen behandlung" by M. E. MUELLER, M. ALLGOEWER and H. WILLENEGGER (Springer, Berlin . Goettingen . Heidelberg, 1963) has been out of print now for more than three years. We are planning a new edition which will deal with the collective experience of 14,000 new cases, all treated by internal fixation, and will include the newest developments in the field of internal fixa tion. However, it will be some time before this new edition can be published. Increasing demands for a description of the AO technique of internal fixation has stimulated us to publish this manual. In it we shall describe in a comprehensive but somewhat apodictic mann er the principles and techniques of the AO methods of fracture treatment and reconstructive surgery, which in our hands, have stood the test of time. The book is written in a somewhat abbreviated style. It cor responds in subject matter to the teaching given at the AO courses in Davos, but deals with each subject more thoroughly. We have dispensed with pictures of the instruments, as these may be found in the Synthes Catalogue *. This manual should be regarded as the product of collective experiencc, containing new thoughts and new discoveries from basic research. In considering the risks of mistakes and dangers, we can only reiterate what we have already stated in "Technique of Internal Fixation of Fractures": "Open treatment of fractures is a valuable but difficult method which involves much responsibility.

This book contains the proceedings of an historic sympo sium, the first joint symposium of the Austrian, German and Swiss Trauma Associations and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association of North America. In an effort to bring Euro pean and North American trauma surgeons closer together and foster a free and productive exchange of ideas, these associations chose the meeting of the Austrian, German, and Swiss trauma associations, which was held in Vienna in May of 1991, as the occasion for their first joint session. The Austrian Trauma Association, led by its President, Professor Heinz Kuderna, was the host. The joint symposium of the European and the North American trauma associations, conducted in English, was held concurrently with the regular meeting of the AGS, conducted in German. In order to explore and compare the current concepts in trauma on the two continents, the organizing committee felt that the discussion should focus on an area full of challenge and controversy. Thus the major fractures of the pilon, the talus, and the os calcis were chosen as the topics of discus sion. Each subject was introduced by two keynote speakers, one from Europe and one from North America, who were chosen by their respective trauma associations on the basis of their expertise and distinguished contributions. These presentations were then followed by five or six invited shorter presentations on the subject. At the end of each session, the presenters formed a panel, debated controversial points, and answered questions from the audience."