A specialist in hand surgery will not be available at all hospitals for some years. In the meantime, the fate of the patient will continue to rest in the hands of the surgeon who first treats him. It is essential, therefore, that both the novice and the accomplished surgeon have a sound grasp of the diagnostic and therapeutic fundamentals of hand surgery. The material in this book is presented in a clear, practical manner by a general surgeon who has successfully practiced hand surgery; the result is an especially useful and rewarding book. Many acute situations in hand surgery are not as complicated as they appear to be, whereas other problems can be handled only after much study and experience. Based on his experience with over 7000 general and emergency opera- tions yearly at the Ludwigshafen Surgical Clinic and after years of inten- sive work in the field of hand surgery, my medical chief, Dr. H. R. Mittelbach, has taken the time and trouble to write this handbook for general and clinical practice. For the practicing surgeon and especially the resident, the most important aspects of the treatment of hand injuries have been presented in a clear, concise manner. The didactic excellence of the material, its novel format, and the simple yet forceful drawings that obviate lengthy text descriptions enable the reader to become quickly oriented. However, the book is more thanjust a "cookbook" for quick reference.