Abstract
This book, by two of the most experienced and well known veterinary radiologists, is designed principally for practitioners and takes the form of an illustrated tour through the traumatised dog or cat. The emphasis of the book is illustration of radiographic principles and patterns that will, hopefully, enable the reader to acquire improved interpretive skills; however, the expectation (stated in the introduction) that this book will serve as a useful reference at the point of managing a trauma patient raises the possibility of a retreat to the very ‘Aunt Minnie’ approach that the authors wish to avoid. This reviewer is doubtful that presenting a more or less comprehensive ‘Atlas’ of images is a feasible means of teaching the principles of radiological interpretation.
The book is divided into an introduction and sections on thoracic, abdominal and musculoskeletal trauma, respectively. Each section begins with a few pages of text about practical aspects of radiography, approach to the traumatised patient and interpretation of radiographic signs. The text is written in an easily digestible, conversational style and reflects the authors’ own views of this subject; not a single reference is cited. Tables are used to summarise the key radiographic signs of the most important conditions. The majority of each section is made up of a series of good quality radiographs illustrating the radiographic signs associated with all the major traumatic conditions of the dog and cat. The largest section of the book is that covering musculoskeletal trauma, which includes a large collection of fractures and a few non-traumatic conditions (eg, bone infarcts, aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, radiation injury).
The radiographic figures are divided equally between those of dogs and cats, hence compared to many other radiology books the cat is relatively well represented. The radiographs are reproduced well, with few hard-to-see lesions. In some cases the labelling and descriptions of radiographs could have been more thorough and readers may have difficulty with certain terms (eg, ‘positive silhouetting’, ‘pseudo-liquothorax’, ‘floating bowel loops’). Occasionally the language used is cumbersome (eg, ‘a hypovolemic situation’).
Overall, this is a worthwhile review of an important subject for veterinarians in first-opinion practice. Readers will gain practical advice and refresh their knowledge of many aspects of trauma, although it is less certain that they will improve their interpretive skills.