Despite the multiplicity of writers the book is extremely well blended as well as extensive in its contents. The contributors in- clude surgeons from many disciplines such as Ear, Nose and Throat, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics and Plas- tic Surgery. Radiology and Anaesthesia also have consultant contributions while a maxillofacial technician, an orthoptist and a Scientific Officer from the Road Research Laboratory also contribute to the text.

The book begins with apphed anatomy of the region and pro- ceeds to initial treatment of the patient, giving a good basis to begin the understanding of the management of facial injuries. The next chapter deals with soft tissue injuries and is written by a plastic surgeon. illustrated by good line drawings on suturing of facial wounds.

The treatment of mandibular fractures is covered in three chapters including both open and closed methods of fixation. One point ofcriticism in this part of the book is the mention of a method of fixation which is not widely used and perhaps should have been published in a journal rather than in what is hoped to be a standard textbook on the subject. Middle third injuries are followed by a chapter on fractures of the zygomatic complex and orbit. The ample illustrations on techniques allow a surgeon who has not treated maxillofacial injuries to treat such injuries if the need should arise.

War injuries are described by those who have been involved in conflicts in Nigeria, Vietnam. Southern Atlantic and, of course, Ulster. There will always be times when there are complications from both treatment and injury despite good care and they are covered in the book.

Although the main thrust of the book is towards the surgeon. it has not been unmindful of the help which the maxillofacial technician can contribute and his work occupies a chapter demonstrating the help he can give both in the initial manage- ment of the patient and also where prosthesis can be beneficial to the patient. This chapter also describes simple techniques which surgeons can use such as the construction of eyelet wires. In the reviewer’s opinion the appendix at the end could be removed without any detriment to the book.

While reviewing the book it was difficult for this reader to de- fine the exact readership to whom the book is aimed. Maybe its aim is to cover a wide spectrum of interest. It is certainly cover- ing in greater depth than a medical oi even a dental. student is required to know. Postgraduate students would’cirt&Iy%d it as extensive as they require for examinations such as the FRCS in Maxillofacial Surgery. The excellent references at the end of each chapter make the book an ideal starting point for research into the subject.

The book is ideal for any surgeon working in the field and should become the standard UK textbook on maxillofacial injuries. For any surgeon who may encounter injuries occasion- ally it is certainly an excellent manual to take one through the treatment step by step.

Although the book is in two volumes it cannot be purchased in parts. The price of f125 may seem high but it is well produced and should not be dated for many years to come.

The reviewer thoroughly recommends this book to all who have an interest in maxillofacial injuries.

JAMES WALLACE

Book Reviews

Cleft Palate Children and Intelligence. Intellectual Abili- ties Iof Cleft Palate Children in a Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Study. J. A. Heineman-de Boer. Pp xiii+ 149. (Lisse: Swets & Zeitlinger, 1985). Price Hfl30.00.

Dr Heineman-de Boer is the psychologist in the cleft palate team at Groningen which. under the direction of Professor A. J. C. Huffstadt. has acquired an international reputation. This little book is a thesis for the University of Groningen which has been published in paperback form and is the result of a detailed and well planned research project carried out on patients attending that cleft palate clinic. It is written in almost impeccable English and Dr Heineman-de Boer must be congratulated on her success in making clear a subject that is frequently daunting to the non- psychologist. Though the book is packed with facts and requires concentration from the reader the arguments are well organised, the project properly designed and the results are clearly pre- sented and carefully analysed.

The introductory chapters give the background to the project and the organisation and work of the Groningen cleft palate team. These are followed by a review of the relevant literature in which the results of over 30 papers are critically analysed. The author makes an interesting point that in this field “controlled” studies are often misleading as the control groups almost always exclude mentally handicapped children. She then describes her own study of 370 children. born between 1971 and 1981, who were tested in four different age groups. Many of the children were involved in several of these, so forming a longitudinal study. Five different psychological tests were used, including as- sessment of both verbal and non-verbal intelligence.

The results are presented in great detail and the differences between them and those of other papers are discussed. Although many relationships were studied. in essence the findings of this project, unlike those of some other workers. showed that the in- telligence of cleft palate children was not impaired; in fact it ranged from average to high average with a slightly deficient verbal development. Only in children with other associated con- genital abnormalities was the average IQ lower than normal.

The author frankly acknowledges the limitations of her study (which chiefly relate to the group whose first assessment was at IO months of age) but the size of this project and the care with which it has been carried out make it a significant contribution to the literature. I would recommend the book to anyone who is seriously interested in the problems of children with cleft palate.

A. C. H. WATSON

Maxillofaeial injuries. N. L. Rowe and J. Ll. Williams. Hard back. Pp 1080 with 1829 black and white photo- graphs + 435 line drawings + 103 colour illustrations. (Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1985). Price &125.

Masillqfacial Injuries is basically the third edition of Fractures of the Facial Skelelon by N. L. Rowe and the late Professor H. C. Killey. When the first edition appeared in 1955 there were eight contributors, apart from the authors. The next edition saw the taddition of another six contributors. while this book has the benefit of contributions from 43 writers in addition to Rowe and Williams.

143