During the past 30 years, the Study Group for the Problems of Osteosyn-
thesis (AO) has made decisive contributions to the development of osteo-
synthesis as a surgical method. Through close cooperation among special-
ists in the fields of orthopedic and general surgery, basis research,
metallurgy, and technical engineering, with consistently thorough
follow- up, it was possible to establish a solid scientific background
for osteosyn- thesis and to standardize this operative method, not only
for the more ob- vious applications in fracture treatment, but also in
selective orthopedics where hardly any problems relating to bone, such
as those with osteoto- mies can be solved without surgical
stabilization. Besides the objective aim, the AO was additionally
stimulated by a spirit of open-minded friendship; each member of the
group was recruited according to his pro- fessional background and
position, his skills, and his talent for improvisa- tion. Against this
backdrop without even mentioning the schooling program well known
throughout the world I should like to add some personal and general
comments. This book is written for clinicians, instructing them how to
perform osteo- synthesis with special reference to plating in all its
varieties and in strict accordance with the biomechanical and biological
aspects and facts. From this point of view, the chapter on preoperative
planning merits par- ticular emphasis. Not only is it conductive to
optimal surgery, it will also contribute to self-education and may found
a school.