This book is written primarily for the resident casualty surgeon. In Britain this resident appointment is usually held by young men whose practical experience, for obvious reasons, cannot match their theoretical knowledge. It is possible for such casualty officers to be fully conversant with modern textbooks of fracture treatment and yet be unable with any degree of certainty to reduce many of the simple fractures. I believe that this follows from the fact that in many large textbooks the space devoted to the detailed description of technique in the treatment of the common fractures is disproportionately small. An important step, on which might depend the whole success of a reduction, can be overlooked if it is concealed within one sentence. The full significance of many sentences in standard textbooks is often only realised on reading them again at a later date, when one has learned to reduce fractures by practical experience.

I have therefore in this small volume endeavoured to describe in detail what I consider to be the essential steps in the closed reduction of the common fractures, and at a length proportionate to the importance of the matter. No attempt has been made to write a comprehensive textbook but, by emphasising various mechanical features common to the reduction of certain fractures (which might almost be regarded as principles) it is hoped that the student may learn to apply these to the successful reduction of rare fractures whenever he encounters them.