Surgery of Arthritis. Robert A. Milch, MD (ed.). Price, $11.50. Pp 280, with several illustrations. Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E Preston St, Baltimore, Md 21202, 1964.
Arthritis and Rheumatism. Vol 7, Part 2. William S. Clark, MD (ed.). Price, $3. Pp 549-613. Grune & Stratton, Inc., 381 Fourth Ave, New York 10016, 1964.
In recent years, surgeons have assumed new roles in the combined treatment of arthritis. They have been willing to operate even in the presence of active rheumatoid arthritis, and internists have been willing to let them do so. They thus contribute to the prevention and earlier treatment of the various forms of arthritis, instead of being called upon merely to correct late deformities. Until recently, surgeons had been consulted early only when infectious arthritis required treatment. Von Volkmann attempted to eradicate tuberculosis of the joints through a synovectomy in 1877, but the first modern synovectomy