ABSTRACT
Although it is the orthopaedic surgeon who operates most frequently on these tissues, an understanding of the surgical principles is still essential to the general surgeon. Trauma and infection occur in the soft tissue of both the trunk and the limbs, and there is significant overlap between surgical specialties. This chapter may also be of some value to the general surgeon who is unable to obtain specialist help and has to operate in unfamiliar ‘orthopaedic territory’. However, the true surgical generalist may find that a large proportion of his or her surgical practice is in this mainly orthopaedic area, and will wish to supplement this chapter with further operative texts.1
