Since the publication of the first edition in 1959, “Apley’s System of Orthopaedics and Fractures” has been an essential textbook for those seeking to understand the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system, its diseases and its response to trauma. The book’s success was initiated by the late Alan Apley’s skills as a teacher, and the care and forethought that he brought to the presentation of the content. The current authors have developed and extended this foundation to produce a thoroughly modern textbook of orthopaedic surgery, bringing complementary expertise while retaining the book’s characteristic philosophy and approach.