John Langdon, Mohan Patel, Robert Ord and Peter Brennan. CRC Press; 2017 price £249 pp. 927 ISBN:

9781482252040

Operative oral and maxillofacial surgery enters its third edition almost 20 years since it was first published. It is published by Taylor and Francis Group and edited by four very experienced and respected maxillofacial surgeons and authored by experts in their specific sub-speciality.

This edition of the book allows access to an e-book version. This useful feature transforms what is a heavy reference book to a useful portable aide-memoire that can be used in the operating theatre just before starting surgery.

This book covers the whole spectrum of operative oral and maxillofacial surgery in 85 chapters. The book is divided into sections covering dentoalveolar surgery including implant and surgical endodontics. Oral malignancy and reconstructive free flap surgery are covered in some depth. Maxillofacial trauma, temporomandibular joint surgery, cleft and craniofacial surgery and facial aesthetics are also featured at some length.

New chapters in the third edition include transoral robotics and facial transplantation. In comparison to previous editions, chapters have been revised and updated and there is more clinical photography. As a word of caution the focus of this book is on operative surgery so further reading is required on more detailed nuances of maxillofacial pathology. Some aspects of the book venture into otolaryngology, such as skull base surgery and thyroid surgery which are better covered in more specialised textbooks.

This textbook will be of interest to colleagues in allied specialities, oral surgery and dental core trainees in their maxillofacial rotation; however, it will remain as the go-to textbook for higher surgical trainees in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

This well-written book is likely to become an instant classic among maxillofacial surgeons and a firm favourite of all trainee maxillofacial surgeons preparing for FRCS exit exams. It serves as an ideal introductory book on operative maxillofacial surgery and its coverage of the breadth of maxillofacial surgery is commendable. It deserves a place on the bookshelf of any self-respecting maxillofacial surgeon. I thoroughly recommend it!