This is not a book of orthopaedic radiology. It is a book designed solely to assist with the accurate assessment of the plain radiographs obtained in the Emergency Department. Since the second edition was published in 2005 we have listened to the feedback from our numerous teaching courses and to those working in our Emergency Departments. Also, we recognise the plain film needs of present day radiologists in training. As a consequence we have placed a renewed emphasis on illustrating normal skeletal anatomy by utilising skilful and clarifying artworks. We have separated the common everyday injuries from those that occur much less frequently. First and foremost, we have adhered to our primary objective which is to assist all those who read Emergency Department radiographs and who ask the question… “at first glance these images look normal to me—but how should I check them out in a logical and systematic manner?”
The previous edition of the Survival Guide has proven to be helpful to Emergency Department doctors, Emergency Nurse Practitioners, Radiologists in training, Reporting Radiographers, and to General Practitioners working on their own in remote locations. We hope that this edition, with its improvements in content, in anatomical detail, in design and in layout, will once again assist all those who read, report, and depend upon accurate plain film interpretation in the Emergency Department.
January 2014