The German edition of our book entitled "Operative Frakturen-
behandlung" by M. E. MÜLLER, M. ALLGÖWER and H. WILLENEGGER (Springer,
Berlin . Göttingen . Heidelberg, 1963) has been out of print now for
more than three years. We are planning a new edition which will deal
with the collective experience of 14,000 new cases, all treated by
internal fixation, and will include the newest developments in the field
of internal fixa- tion. However, it will be some time before this new
edition can be published. Increasing demands for a description of the AO
technique of internal fixation has stimulated us to publish this manual.
In it we shall describe in a comprehensive but somewhat apodictic mann
er the principles and techniques of the AO methods of fracture treatment
and reconstructive surgery, which in our hands, have stood the test of
time. The book is written in a somewhat abbreviated style. It cor-
responds in subject matter to the teaching given at the AO courses in
Davos, but deals with each subject more thoroughly. We have dispensed
with pictures of the instruments, as these may be found in the Synthes
Catalogue *. This manual should be regarded as the product of
collective experiencc, containing new thoughts and new discoveries from
basic research. In considering the risks of mistakes and dangers, we can
only reiterate what we have already stated in "Technique of Internal
Fixation of Fractures" "Open treatment of fractures is a valuable but
difficult method which involves much responsibility.