A Leg to Stand On is the story of SIGN, Surgical Implant Generation Network, the organization founded by Dr. Lewis Zirkle in his quest to make top quality orthopaedic implants to treat the injured poor in developing countries. This is the story of the surgeons who have taken these simple instruments and ingeniously transformed them into a versatile set of surgical tools to solve many fracture problems. It is also the story of the millions of people injured and disabled in the under-reported epidemic of injuries caused by road traffic crashes, falls, and interpersonal violence that particularly affect those caught in the throes of poverty.

SIGN's story is told from observations while working with surgeons in their hospitals in Africa and Asia. For many of these surgeons SIGN has given them not only a useful tool that has expanded their professional competence, but has also invited them to become the foundation of a strong humanitarian surgical network. It has given patients, who would be otherwise crippled for life, a leg to stand on.

Now in a revised and expanded second edition, this unique text discusses the opportunities and challenges to the practice of orthopedic surgery in resource-limited environments around the world. Sensibly divided into thematic sections, part I examines barriers to care, from the poorly recognized global burden of orthopedic conditions and the less than ideal equipment to the cultural considerations and ethical dilemmas inherent in such situations. General clinical topics are covered in part II, such as non-surgical approaches and anesthesia, while the remaining sections discuss adult and pediatric trauma, presented in an anatomical format for easy reference with a focus on the natural history and the best treatment methods within existing limitations, followed by musculoskeletal infections, non-infectious pediatric conditions, reconstruction, and amputations. Topics new to this edition include the management of non-unions by induced membrane techniques, autologous bone grafting, bone growth and burn charts, the management of neck and back pain, and principles of orthopedic rehabilitation. Written and edited by experts with years of experience working in austere settings, this second edition of Global Orthopedics is a seamless transition from the original and expands the range of possible management strategies in places desperate for orthopedic care, making it a must for all surgeons and practitioners planning to work in such challenging settings.