Orthopaedic pitfalls.

When presented with an orthopaedic problem, rational management cannot occur without a reasonable diagnosis. Such a diagnosis can only be made by listening to the patient's history, and by examining him with a clear knowledge of important and relevant anatomy. Such relevant anatomy has been outlined in order to make sense of the symptom complexes in: --arm pain --knee pain --back pain without sciatica --back pain with sciatica The behaviour of collagen, which takes three weeks to heal and at least three weeks more to strengthen, is the basis of rational treatment of ligamentous injuries. Advice is given on specific situations to avoid the pitfalls of treatment which is too much, too little, too late or too soon.