The Foot

In orthopaedic surgery, the study of the foot has a special place. Familiarity with the congenital and acquired problems of in­ flammation and arthrosis must be blended with an understand­ ing of the mechanics of support and propulsion before a sure choice of effective treatment can be made. There is involvement of bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, soft tissues and integument, none of which can be treated in isolation. Superficial appraisal can lead to the cardinal error of facile diagnosis, and ignorance of the physiology of the organ and of the differences of expert opinion with respect to pathogenesis and basic therapeutic con­ cepts invites inevitably poor management. In this book, I have attempted to interpret pathology, clinical presentation and treatment in the light of practical experience. I do not presume to be original, for many distinguished authors on the subject already. Lelievre (1952), Viladot et have written al. '1956), de Doncker and Kowalski (1970) and many others, preceded by Hohmann (1951), Morton (1935), Hauser (1950) and Boehler (1944), have all contributed significantly to our ba­ sic knowledge and opened the way to understanding. The philosopher Alain wrote succinctly: "When it is fully com­ prehended that there is no knowledge without experience and that one cannot conceive an idea unless there already exists a thought, no more need be said".