Earlier this year, Thieme published the Surgical Treatment of Orthopaedic Trauma, a landmark multimedia reference tool covering the surgical management of injuries. The revolutionary book is accompanied by four high-quality DVDs, with over 18 hours of surgical videos. Advance copies of the book were available for the first time at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) meeting on February 14, 2007. The book was the runaway bestseller at the meeting. During the meeting, a book signing with Editors James P. Stannard, Andrew H. Schmidt, and Philip J. Kregor attracted an enthusiastic crowd at the Thieme booth. We recently interviewed the Editors and asked them to tell us more about the book and DVDs and the benefits they provide. They also gave us some insight on what they enjoy most about their work. Drs. James P. Stannard and Andrew H. Schmidt Editors of Surgical Treatment of Orthopaedic Trauma Q1. Can you explain how the Surgical Treatment of Orthopaedic Trauma text and DVDs are different from other resources available to Orthopaedic surgeons? Dr. Stannard: This book is intended to provide a reference that is concise and very surgically oriented. It is supplemented by more than 100 DVD cases, all of which are designed to provide tips and tricks and surgical details on how to successfully perform procedures. Dr. Schmidt: There are no texts aside from ours that constitute a thorough yet efficient catalog of the information needed to know to manage orthopaedic trauma. In other words, in other books the critical information is either missing or hidden in detail about historical treatment options. Also, no book has utilized video to the extent that ours does and I doubt that any other text will ever be able to approach the quality and quantity of our video. Our videos are integrated in the text, and the text is integrated into our videos. Our videos show the surgical procedure from pre-op positioning to skin closure. Q2. What are the main benefits viewers will achieve by using the DVDs as a learning tool and/or reference? Dr. Stannard: The DVD’s are intended to provide a clear presentation of how to perform surgical procedures to treat skeletal trauma. We provide tips and tricks, set up, and various details on how to perform surgical procedures. Dr. Schmidt: The DVD’s allow the reader to actually “step into the operating room” and see the techniques being described in the book. This is an invaluable resource. Q3. What are you hoping to accomplish by writing this book? Dr. Stannard: Provide a concise surgical text that is filled with detail on how to perform surgical procedures and outcome data. Dr. Schmidt: To provide a single resource that will help practicing orthopedic surgeons manage their trauma cases, assist with the development of their trauma knowledge for board certification, and to assist the resident or fellow while they first learn these techniques and prepare for their in-training examinations. Q4. What do you enjoy most about your work? Dr. Stannard: Restoring seriously injured patients to a functional state and teaching other orthopaedic surgeons how to perform procedures. Dr. Schmidt: Helping an injured person heal so that they can get back to their life. Q5. What do your most recent research efforts focus on? Dr. Stannard: Knee dislocations, bone morphogenic proteins, bone grafting techniques Dr. Schmidt: My research efforts have been primarily directed at finding better solutions to common and vexing orthopedic complications. One large effort that I have been involved with for nearly ten years is research on a promising technology that may provide a more accurate way to diagnose compartment syndrome and a therapy that may decrease intramuscular pressure without fasciotomy. Other research efforts have been on the use of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP’s) to promote healing of infected fractures. I enjoy biomechanics and try to be involved in what is going on in our lab. Finally, I am involved in numerous clinical studies, including studies on femoral reaming, open fracture, and comparing different approaches to fracture fixation. For more information and to purchase, please visit: Surgical Treatment of Orthopaedic Trauma