The clerkship curriculum that evolved into the ideas for this series was inspired by two talented and forthright students, Philbert Yao and Chuck Rosipal, who have since graduated from medical school. It has been a tremendous joy to work with the excellent orthopaedic surgery residents and faculty members at Albany Medical Center and Hospital for Special Surgery. They have been some of the most diligent, astute, and wonderfully responsive group with whom I have collaborated. I am greatly indebted to my editor, Catherine Johnson, whose exuberance, experience, and -vision helped to shape this series. I appreciate McGraw-Hill's believing in the concept of teaching through clinical cases, and I would like to especially acknowledge John Williams, the director of editing. I am also thankful to Tania Andrabi for her excellent production expertise.

Without my dear colleagues Drs. Konrad Harms, Priti Schachel, and Gizelle Brooks-Carter, this book could not have been written. At Methodist Hospital, I appreciate Dr. Marc Boom, Dr. Judy Paukert, and Dr. Alan Kaplan. I also appreciate Debby Chambers, an excellent administrator, who is extremely supportive to the mission of education. Most of all, I appreciate my ever-loving wife Terri and my four wonderful children, Andy, Michael, Allison, and Christina, for their patience and understanding.