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Core Topics in Pain

Anita Holdcroft, Sian Jaggar (Eds.) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K. 2005. $70.00 (C) retail price. 345 pages. ISBN 0 521 85778 3

Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Canada

Miseris succurrere disco. I learn to relieve the suffering. Virgil, Aeneid

This small, eminently readable volume provides an excellent overview of key aspects of pain management. While primarily designed as an introductory text for resident trainees, it will also appeal to clinicians seeking a current and succinct review of particular topics with a focus on evidence-based practice.

The text is comprised of 50 brief chapters, with each chapter ranging from three to nine pages in length. The chapters are generally well-written and maintain a consistent format throughout, with a summary of key points and an appropriate reference list at the end of each chapter. Figures and tables are used effectively to provide additional clarity. The book is organized into six main sections: 1) Basic Science; 2) Pain Assessment: Pain Measurement and Diagnostic Strategies; 3) Pain in the Clinical Setting: Clinical Presentations and Pain Syndromes; 4) The Role of Evidence in Pain Management; 5) Treatment of Pain: General Principles, Physical Treatments, Pharmacology and Psychosocial; and 6) Summaries.

Certain chapters are deserving of special praise, such as M.G. Serpell’s concise yet comprehensive review of complex regional pain syndrome. The inclusion of a photograph of the landmark 1864 treatise on Gunshot Wounds and Other Injuries of Nerves by Silas Weir Mitchell (later a colleague and dear friend of our own William Osler) is an unexpected flourish. H.J. McQuay’s exposition on the evidence base for clinical practice is refreshingly frank and practical, and L.A. Skoglund’s unique chapter on the design and reporting of clinical trials for analgesic efficacy is a valuable resource.

There are a total of 52 contributing authors, drawn primarily from the United Kingdom. Semantic variations being what they are, this may lead to some minor consternation on the part of a few North American junior trainees unfamiliar with paracetamol. A glossary of terms is generously provided at the end of the text.

Core Topics in Pain is a worthy addition to the small selection of introductory texts in this area. Its ambitious scope and accessible format enable the student to gain an appreciation of the complex pathophysiological mechanisms and the multidisciplinary treatments involved in the management of chronic pain.

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