basic techniques in extremity reconstruction

Abstract

Turkey sits at the crossroads of the East and West, between Asia and Europe.The Ilizarov technique is a product of technology that developed in Asia andmigrated to Europe. It is therefore only fitting that a major work on theIlizarov method be compiled by the person who introduced the Ilizarovmethod to Turkey. I first met Professor Mehmet Çakmak in 1992 in Pakistanwhen we were both visiting professors. Professor Ilizarov had just died sothat this was a solemn occasion for our first meeting. I had the privilege to beDr. Mehmet Çakmak’s guest in Turkey. He has remained the first pioneer ofthis method in Turkey and has stimulated many of his residents to pursue thisfield of study. One of his most promising disciples is Dr. Mehmet Kocaogluwho was my first Turkish fellow. It is through this friendship and collegialitythat a great cooperation has remained between myself and the Turkish orthopedicspecialists in this field. This cross-fertilization has spawned innovationfrom across the Bosporus that has contributed significantly to the worldknowledge on all aspects of Ilizarov technology including limb lengthening,deformity correction, treatment of nonunions, bone defects, and osteomyelitisand the understanding and management of the complications of such complextreatments. I wish to congratulate Professor Mehmet Çakmak and hismany coeditors and authors for this significant achievement, which stands asanother monument to Professor Ilizarov’s revolution in orthopedics morethan 30 years since his methodology was introduced to the West. The readerwill find this tome a great reference source to the most up-to-date understandingand techniques associated with the Ilizarov method and device.Florida, USA Dror Paley, MD, FRCSC