Primary care providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants) make decisions on a daily basis regarding treatment for musculoskeletal problems, including referrals to orthopedic surgeons and other specialists. Despite the large number of patients presenting with musculoskeletal complaints, primary care providers often feel poorly educated about how to assess and manage these conditions.

Written by expert orthopedic, physical medicine and pain management specialists at major Harvard teaching hospitals, the second edition of Principles of Orthopedic Practice for Primary Care Providers represents a high-yield and succinct resource on the assessment and management of musculoskeletal conditions. Chapters overview specific body parts, typical presentations of disease, options for diagnostic testing, treatment paradigms, and anticipated outcomes of management both in the primary care setting and following specialist consultation. The text offers suggested pathways for working up and treating these problems with an emphasis on when referral to a specialist, or surgical intervention, is needed.

While all previous chapters have been fully revised, this edition also includes nine brand new chapters, including chapters on pain management, hip-spine syndrome, adult spinal deformity, sports-related injuries, and cost and quality in musculoskeletal care.

Andrew J. Schoenfeld, MD, MSc is an Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Academic Affairs in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.  He serves as Director of Spine Surgical Research for the Harvard Combined Spine Fellowship program and is Director Emeritus of the Brigham and Women's Hospital Surgical Research Fellowship.  He was previously a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar at the University of Michigan. 

Jeffrey N. Katz, MD, MS is Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Medicine (Rheumatology) Harvard Medical School and Professor of Epidemiology at the T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health.  Dr. Katz holds the Clement B. Sledge and Thomas S. Thornhill Distinguished Chair in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He is Director of the Orthopedic and Arthritis Center for Outcomes Research at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Cheri A. Blauwet, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School,  Boston, Massachusetts, USA  

Jeffrey N. Katz, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA