Musculoskeletal Key

The anatomy of the spine varies from region to region. The cervical spine is light, small, and flexible; the thoracic spine is larger and relatively immobile because of its associated…

Approaches to the structures of the ankle and foot usually are straightforward; the bones and joints that are explored commonly are superficial, if not subcutaneous. Apart from technical problems associated…

Seven approaches to the wrist and hand are described in this chapter: three to the wrist and two each to the flexor tendons and scaphoid. The dorsal approach to the…

The Hip Operations on the hip joint are among the most common surgical procedures performed in orthopaedics. Total joint replacement for degenerative joint disease has revolutionized the lives of millions…

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body. It is surrounded by two sleeves of muscle: the outer sleeve, or deltoid muscle; and the inner sleeve, or rotator…

The knee is a synovial hinge joint, supported and stabilized by powerful muscular and ligamentous forces. It is superficial on three sides (anterior, medial, and lateral), and approaches to it…

Operations on the humerus are relatively infrequent and generally involve the open reduction and internal fixation of fractures. All approaches to the humerus are potentially dangerous because the major nerves…

Operations on the femur are extremely common. The lateral approach to the proximal femur, which is used to treat the growing number of patients who have intertrochanteric hip fractures, is…

The surgical anatomies of the two bones of the forearm differ significantly. The ulna has a subcutaneous border that extends for its entire length; the bone can be reached simply…

Pelvis The pelvis is a complex bony structure with interconnecting ligaments. It consists of the two innominate bones, which articulate anteriorly with each other at the pubic symphysis and posteriorly…