The orthopedic ward can be a challenging location for the recently qualified doctor. The demands and responsibilities in preparing patients for elective orthopedic and acute trauma surgery are often very different. The situation is not helped by the impressive comorbidity often seen in orthopedic patients or the increasing tendency for out-of-hours ward cover to be provided by resident doctors working "off their patch." In this book, the authors have attempted to provide a practical guide to the most common perioperative issues and medical pr- lems found during the day-to-day management of these patients. The model used is based on an earlier "in-house" publication written for the guidance of anesthetic trainees working in a trauma intensive care unit. The authors are all hardened observers of the speed at which today's recommendations become yesterday's history and so have made a particular effort to select references that will assist in readers remaining updated.