Physiotherapy April 2001/vol 87/no 4

220

Haworth Press, New York2000 (ISBN 0 7890 0997 8). 86 pages

Published simultaneously as Physical and OccupationalTherapy in Geriatrics, 17, 2.

edited by Margaret A Perkinson and Kathryn L Braun £20.70The editors of this book have put together a series of papersillustrating and exploring two different methods of involvingAmerican occupational therapy students in the researchprocess. One model explores the apprenticeship model thatplaces students in a mentored situation in an establisheduniversity research laboratory. The other explores a modelfor collaborative research between university and serviceprovider where students gain their research experience in ahospital setting with support from the university. The twomodels are described and subjectively evaluated by staffinvolved in the process. It is a pity that papers included from students describe their research studies rather thanevaluating the learning experience from their perspective.

Both these models will be of interest to those involved in providing research training who have an interest inparticipatory teaching and student mentoring. Although thebook relates to occupational therapy it provides a frameworkfor physiotherapy. A difficulty may arise for those unfamiliarwith the American system of physiotherapy education whentrying to equate it with our own. Nevertheless, there is aninteresting paper exploring how research skills are similar to those used in practice which may be useful when trying to argue that an elective placement in research can be asvaluable as a clinical placement.

My main problem with the book lies with the choice oftitle that is somewhat misleading. Leaving aside the politicalcorrectness of the term 'geriatric', it is hard to understandwhy they have included 'geriatric' in the title as theeducational experience rather than the research topicappears to be the main focus of the book. Indeed the secondhalf is devoted to research in a rehabilitation unit involvingpatients of all ages.

Overall this book provides some food for thought forthose involved in the research training of others but other-wise has a relatively limited appeal.

Maggie Rastall MCSP

Teaching Students GeriatricResearch

Martin Dunitz, London2000 (ISBN 1 85317 475 0). 321 pages

by Raoul Tubiana, Caroline Leclercq, Lawrence C Hurst,Marie A Badalamente and Evelyn J Mackin £65Dupuytren’s disease and all that it encompasses, from its historical discovery to current research into non-surgicaltreatment, is the focus of this new publication. Written by hand surgeons with contributions from therapists andresearchers, this book makes interesting reading for thosesurgeons and therapists whose clinics are frequented byDupuytren’s patients.

The book is divided neatly into ten chapters, takingreaders through a logical progression of various aspects ofthe disease and its treatment. Starting with an historicaloverview which gives some personality and career back-ground to Baron Von Dupuytren, it describes the discoveryof the disease and the skills of those surgeons.

Further chapters can be loosely divided into sectionscovering:

� Anatomical history and contemporary research.

� Epidemiology, histopathology and cell biology.

� Clinical aspects and assessment.

� Treatment, both surgical and therapeutic.

The anatomy chapter covers the history of the palmarfascia and related research, with very detailed and perhapslengthy descriptions from various surgeons spanning the years of anatomical discovery. There are appropriate and detailed illustrations to help readers to visualise these descriptions; however, this chapter was a little dry in parts.

Current research into the histopathology and cell biologyhelps us to understand more clearly the pathogenesis of thedisease. This, and the anatomical chapter provide readerswith a great insight into these subjects. However, although it is interesting for physiotherapists to know, I feel thisinformation is more essential for surgeons.

We know that Dupuytren’s disease is a northernhemisphere condition, however the epidemiology chapterdelves deeper. It describes the geographical history, allowingus a better understanding of the prevalence of the diseasetoday.

Treatments both non-surgical and surgical make inter-esting reading. Procedures described, including reasons for clinical application, are fasciectomy, fasciotomy, openpalm, dermo fasciotomy, skin flaps, and salvage proced-ures.

An assessment is described specifically for Dupuytren’sdisease. I found this a complicated but comprehensivedescription of individual finger assessment. It includesrecording of nodular and contracture involvement, and apost-operative scoring system.

Throughout the book there are detailed and colourful

Dupuytren’s Disease