Atlas of Orthoses and Assistive Devices, 5th Edition

By Joseph Webster, MD

ISBN: 9780323483230

Pub Date: 25 Jan 2018

Reviewed by: Kristin Carnahan, BS, MSPO (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)

Description

This fifth edition of a well-organized orthotics atlas has helpful updates to the 2008 edition, in keeping with development of new technology and techniques.

Where appropriate, it describes new interventions objectively, while documenting their advantages and disadvantages compared to more conventional options. The accompanying website version is easy to navigate and includes complete references, which do not appear in the print version.

Purpose

The purpose is to comprehensively describe orthotic interventions that are commonly used as well as some of the decision-making process that is involved in determining specific prescription recommendations. This book is valuable as a concise source of this information, which can help each member of the treatment team understand and invest in the decision-making process for orthotic treatment interventions. The online version is made available by chapter or as a whole.

Audience

The intent is to provide a reference and guide for anyone on the rehabilitation team for persons who may benefit from the use of an orthosis. This is a great resource for those members of the rehabilitation team who may be providing input to the treating orthotist who should be prepared to make the detailed decisions for device design that this book is not intended to specify. The chapter authors represent an appropriate mix of credentials. Most chapters were written by a team of authors, with varying credentials which adds to the richness of information.

Features

The book is helpful in breaking down treatment options by body segment and further into specific diagnoses. Individual chapters that address each diagnosis provide some guiding principles for orthosis design based on individual patient presentation. The collaboration of multiple authors for each chapter adds great value. The writing is clear and concise, and the content is organized in a clinically relevant manner.

Assessment

This is a high quality book that is useful for its intended purpose of providing a comprehensive overview of orthoses for all members of the rehabilitation team to consider when providing treatment solutions for patients. This edition continues to represent one of the most thorough resources for rehabilitation professionals to reference when orthotic treatment is being considered.

Doody’s Review Service Weighted Numerical Score: 93 – 4 Stars!