Rheumatology: A Clinical Handbook

by Ahmad Al-Sukaini, Mohsin Azam, Ash Samanta

Overview

Rheumatology: A clinical handbook is an essential resource for medical students who need an introduction, understanding and overview of the subject. Most competing texts either burden medical students with information they do not require, or cover rheumatology alongside orthopedics and as a result compromise fundamentals of rheumatology. This book is different – it provides all the information students need during their rheumatology placement and signposts them to where they can find further information.

A definition and brief pathophysiology for each condition is provided, which is linked to the respective clinical features. The book covers the core elements of diagnosis and treatment based on the latest UK guidelines to swiftly bring students and junior doctors in training up-to-date. Self-assessment questions and an OSCE chapter provide a way of checking that users have understood and grasped the core material, as well as enabling students to be well equipped for their written and OSCE examinations. Written by two medical students and an experienced consultant rheumatologist, the book combines a reader-friendly writing style with coverage of the material through clinical experience of a professional in the field.

Printed in full color throughout, with an attractive design, a clear and concise writing style as well as a range of pedagogical features including an array of mnemonics, pictures and diagrams, Rheumatology: A clinical handbook is exactly the sort of book medical students and newly qualified doctors would benefit from.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781907904264
Publisher:	Scion Publishing Ltd.
Publication date:	05/30/2014
Edition description:	1
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 18 Years

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

2. SPECIFIC CONDITIONS
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA); Osteoarthritis (OA); Septic arthritis; Introduction to spondyloarthropathies: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA); Ankylosing spondylitis; Reactive arthritis; Gout; Calcium pyrophosphate disease (CPPD); Vasculitis; Giant cell arteritis (GCA); Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR); SLE; Polymyositis and dermatomyositis; Sjögren's syndrome; Scleroderma; Fibromyalgia; Osteoporosis; Paget's disease

3. PAEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY CONDITIONS
Vitamin D deficiency; Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

4. INVESTIGATIONS
Blood tests; Immunological tests; Synovial fluid analysis; Imaging

5. PHARMACOLOGY
Analgesia; Corticosteroids; Osteoporosis drugs; DMARDs and biological agents

6. OSCEs
History taking; Examination; Differential diagnosis

Appendix A: Answers to self-assessment questions
Appendix B: Photograph acknowledgements

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Maryam Pourpaki, Rheumatology Fellow(Washington University Medical Center)
Description: With its colorful design of bullets and red flags, along with the simple tables and diagrams, this succinct review of the most common rheumatological disorders is a perfect visual memory aid during rotations in the wards and for preparation for the different exams.
Purpose: The aim is to cover the core curriculum of rheumatology for medical students and provide a quick reference guide for clinic, ward-based work and undergraduate examinations. It is not intended to replace standard textbooks.
Audience: The audience includes medical students and newly qualified junior doctors, who can use it to further their knowledge and as a quick reference for practice and examinations. These aims are achieved with the smart design of this book. The fact that the authors are medical students supervised by an experienced rheumatologist makes it helpful for other students.
Features: The book almost covers the most important and common rheumatological diseases simply and briefly. The colorful and organized design, with multiple bullet points, tables, and diagrams make it easy to learn and remember.
Assessment: This is a practical book for medical students to use as a quick reference or review. The size makes it suitable for carrying in the pocket. Some suggestions for future editions:

• The table of contents needs to be better categorized along the lines of: Autoimmune Rheumatic Disorders (including vasculitic syndromes); Spondyloarthropathies; Crystal Arthritis; Musculoskeletal Diseases (e.g. neck pain, low back pain, etc.); Rheumatic Diseases in Children; Disorders of Bone, Cartilage, and Connective Tissue (e.g. OA, septic arthritis/osteomyelitis, ischemic bone diseases, bone tumors, etc.)
• Each of the categories needs pertinent subcategories.
• Improve the photos, which are small and hard to see.
• Incorporate stronger pathophysiological explanation of the diseases, as this is the most important step for medical students.
• Adding more case scenarios at the end of each chapter would help with learning.
• Include a brief and simple chapter about the immune system and some related disorders like primary immune disorders.
• References from the chapters should be listed in a different section at the end of the book.

Doody's Review Service