When we were first approached to assemble this volume on minimally invasive techniques in the wrist and hand, we wereunsure whether enough novel and valuable material existed to merit a book. However,inputting together arough outline, we easily came up with over 40 chapters. This told us something about the evolution of hand and wrist surgery over the last several years. The surgeon leaders in the field have been motivated to improve upon existing operations in many ways.Significant advances have been achieved by making thesurgical experience more appealing to the patient by developing procedures that are less invasive with smaller incisions and shorter rehabilitation times. This work has been largely motivated by forces in society at large, with patients expecting abetter aesthetic result, less morbidity,and an earlier return to function. This, of course, must be coupled with proper treatment of the pathology and equal or better technical results than the traditional open techniques.

The text was designed to serve both as areference atlas and awork that may be read asection at atime. The reader should be able to turn to asurgical technique section and firmly grasp how to do aspecific procedurein5to10minutes. The chapters have been assembled in aconsistent format throughout the text. The “Introduction” is meant to be brief and to describe the motivation for and evolution of the minimally invasive technique. Within the “Indications” section, authors describe how the technique differs from and improves upon the similar open procedure. The surgical technique is really a“how to” section with step-by-step instructions and accompanying photographs and figures. The outcomes described are published series (when available) for the specific and similar techniques and often contain the authors’ personal patient series. Unpub­lished work and data that werepresented only at national meetings are also included to be as complete and accurate as possible. Finally,weasked all authors to include abulleted summary section to clearly define the advantages, risks, and benefits of these new and often technically demanding techniques.

We would like to thank the many authors who contributed to this work for taking time from their busy schedules to add “another book chapter” to their long lists of accomplishments. Many of these “giants” of hand surgery have taught us many things through the years and have been inspirational with their teaching and leadership. We hope that this volume adds something unique and of significance to the world of hand and wrist surgery.