Book excerpt: This is a practical guide for the management of common fractures of the hand and carpus. Hand fractures constitute a large proportion of all fractures and are treated by a variety of practitioners, ranging from orthopaedic and plastic surgeons to emergency nurse practitioners.This book systematically addresses all common hand fracture patterns with illustrative radiographs for each type. The reader can see a patient, take a radiograph of their injury and find an almost exact match to one in this book. He or she will then be guided to the correct treatment, supported by clear and practical instructions from the immediate management to technical tips on definitive surgical fracture fixation. The treatments described emphasise simple and reliable treatments that can be applied in most medical settings. This makes the book applicable in both first and third world countries.Versions of this book have been used and have proven popular in a number of Orthopaedic and A&E departments across the UK. It is an easy-to-use reference for medical and non-medical staff including nurses, physiotherapists as well as junior and senior hospital doctors and general practitioners./a