Medical Aspects of Disability: A Handbook for the Rehabilitation Professional.Eisenberg MG, Glueckauf RL, Zaretsky HH, eds. New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , NY, Springer Publishing Co Inc, 1993, hardback, 414 pp, illus, $48.95. The three editors of this informative text have compiled a comely come·ly adj. come·li·er, come·li·est 1. Pleasing and wholesome in appearance; attractive. See Synonyms at beautiful. 2. Suitable; seemly: comely behavior. arrangement of topics designed to introduce the salient medical and physiological features of disease processes and syndromes that rehabilitation professionals will encounter in their clinical practices. In this vein, the editors have executed their task in a fine manner. The text comprises 24 chapters with over 40 contributors. The work is questionably divided into two sections. The first section is an introduction to key topics and issues and has only two chapters. The first chapter is beautifully written and is excellent in all respects; it is an overview of the current rehabilitation picture, and emphasizes outcome and the role of therapists and physiatrists in shaping the origins of the field of rehabilitation. This chapter alone is so perceptive that it makes purchasing the work worthwhile. The second chapter, on the other hand, is an overview of body systems and is cursory and superfluous, This review is unnecessary for physical therapy practitioners, but may be helpful for rehabilitation counseling rehabilitation counseling, n counseling started in the United States in 1920 to assist individuals disabled by industrial accidents; originally included physical, psychologic, and occupational training; expanded over the next 70 years and laid the students and others with limited background in the basic sciences. The remaining 22 chapters are contained in the second section, which is a compilation of various disabling conditions. Each of these chapters is loosely organized to depict the functional presentation of the disease or diseases, followed by treatment, prognosis, and psychological and vocational implications. This section, as a whole, is well-done, and begins with clinical syndromes that are among today's most challenging--acquired immunodeficiency syndrome immunodeficiency syndrome n. A syndrome associated with an immunological deficiency or disorder and characterized primarily by an increased susceptibility to infection. and Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (ăls`hī'mərz, ôls–), degenerative disease of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex that leads to atrophy of the brain and senile dementia. . The former is concise and comprehensive; the latter offers an admirable outline of the various classification schema in dementia. The remainder of the topics are inclusive and provide the precise, current coverage of the major medical aspects of disability. There are many highlights and, fortunately, few pitfalls with the bulk of the work. Traumatic brain injury Traumatic brain injury (TBI), traumatic injuries to the brain, also called intracranial injury, or simply head injury, occurs when a sudden trauma causes brain damage. TBI can result from a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury and is one of two subsets of acquired brain is given venerable attention as rehabilitation here will remain a vital enterprise designed to relieve the demoralization de·mor·al·ize tr.v. de·mor·al·ized, de·mor·al·iz·ing, de·mor·al·iz·es 1. To undermine the confidence or morale of; dishearten: an inconsistent policy that demoralized the staff. and dependency that often ensues. The rehabilication counseling issues in the chapter on cancer are astutely and sensitively addressed and are designed to ensure adequate coping strategies appropriate to the situation. The cardiovascular portion is also very interesting and consolidates current rehabilitation applications, but its vascular system discussion is limited to diseases of the aorta. This is remiss re·miss adj. 1. Lax in attending to duty; negligent. 2. Exhibiting carelessness or slackness. See Synonyms at negligent. considering the prevalence of peripheral vascular disease Peripheral Vascular Disease Definition Peripheral vascular disease is a narrowing of blood vessels that restricts blood flow. It mostly occurs in the legs, but is sometimes seen in the arms. . The chapter on developmental disabilities, highlighting cerebral palsy and spina bifida, is well detailed and is a very thorough review of these common disorders. Chapters on substance abuse, burn injuries, mental retardation, and neuromuscular disorders are among the other topics addressed. Not all chapters have tables, and overall there are few. Figures are even more scarce. Only the chapter on rheumatic diseases has photographs. A generous index completes the text. The work is referenced, albeit sparsely, in many chapters, and each chapter has a list of references at its end, The writing style is commendable, considering the multiplicity of authors, and flows nicely. The overall readability is very good. Coverage in a volume such as this has some realistic limitations, but the tone is positive, the intent basic, and the level of readership sophisticated. The work is indicated primarily for students in vocational rehabilitation counseling and is a highly recommended text for this population. Its use by physical therapy pratitioners will be limited, but it could be read for its perspective in the areas of psychological and vocational sequelae sequelae Clinical medicine The consequences of a particular condition or therapeutic intervention . Readers seeking a more extensive and comprehensive coverage of specific conditions should turn to other more intensive texts. Stephen A Gudas, PhD, PT Medical College of Virginia History The school was founded in 1838 as the Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College. It received an independent charter from the General Assembly in 1854 and became the Medical College of Virginia, and shortly thereafter transferred all its property to the Commonwealth Richmond, Va |
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