Neale's Disorders of The Foot

This is the seventh edition of Neale's Disorders of The Foot, a publication going back 25 years. In his preface to the first edition Donald Neale stresses that the chiropodist should be able to obviate or postpone the need for hospital admission and wishes to encapsulate current concepts. This has certainly been done in this new edition. The need for a broad spectrum of knowledge is shown by the breadth of contributors to this volume. As well as a number of distinguished podiatrists the authors include sports scientists, anaesthetists, dermatologists, geneticists, paediatricians, rheumatologists and diabetologists.

There are always quibbles in this type of multi-author volume. Perhaps the DEXA scan and treatment by bisphosphonate drugs should be mentioned in the section on osteoporosis, although the DEXA scan is covered in the comprehensive chapter on imaging. In 2006 should mention be made of MRSA infection of the foot? This is certainly of concern to many patients today.

There is certainly plenty of information here. How many practitioners will know the difference between Iselin's disease and Islen's neuroma? The editors have done a first rate job in co-ordinating the different chapters and ensuring that there is not too much overlap in the information provided. The diagrams are excellent but some of the figures should be replaced; for example I cannot see any evidence of soft tissue calcification in the X-ray film which is supposed to show soft tissue calcification.

This volume is a reflection of the increasing academic background to the study of foot disorders. Most of the editors are actively involved in teaching and Neale's Disorders of The Foot can certainly be recommended as a textbook for undergraduates and post-graduates.