In the archives of Special Operations Executive lay a report compiled by a staff officer and former member of SOEs F Section, Major ROBERT BOURNE-PATERSON, which has never been published before. Because of the highly sensitive nature of the work undertaken by SOE, the history produced by Bourne-Paterson was originally treated as confidential and its circulation was strictly limited to selected personnel. Now, at last, it has been made available to the general public. Limited, also, was the time available to Bourne-Patterson in compiling his account in 1946 as SOE was being wound up and many documents and records were being weeded from the files. Nevertheless, the paper he wrote provides a fascinating insight into the work of the SOE in France, the country where its operations were most extensive. Bourne-Paterson wrote his report on SOE no doubt believing that this secret organisation would be forgotten and its achievements unrecognised. His aim was simply to leave a permanent account of the activities of the brave men and women who operated in France, where no such record existed. Little could Bourne-Patterson have realised that SOE would become one of the most celebrated organisations of the Second World War, or that his unique report would one day be published for all to read.

The purpose of this book is to give an overview of controversies that orthopaedic surgeons might have to consider when carrying out all levels of hip surgery.

Contributions cover such important paediatric problems as developmental dysplasia of the hip, Perthes disease, slipped capital femoral epiphysis and hip problems associated with neurological diseases. Traumatic conditions of the hip, including acetabular fractures and femoral neck fractures are covered in detail. Considerable emphasis is given to the field of both primary and revision total hip replacement, with special emphasis on the differences which occur in Europe and North America. Like every other aspect of hip disease, the field of total hip arthroplasty is continuously changing to improve both the quality and durability of the clinical result. Finally, post-operative complications and their avoidance are covered, particularly in the fields of deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis and management of the infected total hip arthroplasty.

The contributions in this volume are from an international array of experts in the field of hip surgery.