Managing Low Back Pain, 3d ed.

Kirkaldy-Willis WH, Burton CV, eds. New York, NY 10011, Churchill Levingstone Inc, 1992, hardback, 419 pp, illus, $74.95.

This newest edition of Kirkaldy-Willis and Burton's book presents a thorough overview of current, state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment approaches to low back pain. This book is written in such a manner that it should serve as an excellent reference for students as well as practicing clinicians.

The chapters are organized into four primary sections. Section 1, "Essential Principles," includes chapters on epidemiology, anatomy, biomechanics, and pathology. Section 2, "The Clinical Picture," includes information about psychological factors, diagnostic procedures, the use of diagnostic imaging, and differential diagnosis. Section 3, entitled "Treatment," is comprehensive in its presentation of treatment options available to physicians and therapists. Section 4, "Final Comments," offers a forum where the two editors present their opinions about the past, present, and future of neurosurgery and orthopedics in the management of low back pain. The chapters on diagnosis and treatment will be the most interesting to both clinicians and students because current information about conservative and surgical management of low back pain is emphasized.

This book is extremely well supported by primary references in addition to the clinical experience of the writer(s) of each chapter. Additionally, the inclusion of pictures and graphic images of pathological specimens, and diagnostic and treatment techniques makes the text much more informative and valuable to the reader.

The editors have brought the works of several noted authors together into a publication that provides the reader with a wealth of information about the management of low back pain. Although this book does not present any new information, it does provide a strong resource for any health care professional who is involved with the care of patients with low back dysfunction.