AO SpineMasters Volume 10: Spinal Infections
By Luiz Roberto Vialle
Whether it occurs in residency or practice, the overwhelming majority of neurosurgeons have encountered difficult spinal infections. This text provides up-to-date information on imaging, management and pathology related to spinal infections. Its easy-to-read format and succinct chapters make it the perfect text to read on the go. Each chapter concludes with a chapter summary, pearls and pitfalls sections, which are very instructive when looking for pertinent information. If you find you need more background information on a topic in this text, the references section has “Five Must Read” references highlighted that will be beneficial for understanding the logic behind recommendations, which is important for future application. Overall, I give this text a high rating.
Joshua Spear, MD
Neurosurgery Resident
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
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Brain Arteriovenous Malformations and Arteriovenous Fistulas
By Aaron S. Dumont, Giuseppe Lanzino, Jason P. Sheehan
In Brain Arteriovenous Malformations and Arteriovenous Fistulas, Drs. Dumont, Lanzino and Sheehan bring together an eminent group of experts to discuss the multimodality treatment of these complex pathologies. The unique aspect of this book is the focus on the pathology (AVMs and AVFs) and not the treatment itself (surgery, endovascular or radiosurgery). Thus, the first six chapters of the book focus on concepts that are important to understand before even suggesting treatment to a patient – cerebrovascular anatomy, angiogenesis, natural history, associated syndromes and clinical presentations. While good review articles exist on each of these topics, the inclusion of all of these in the setting of the introductory chapters of this book make it a useful reference. Several of the next chapters will be familiar to readers who have read other books on the topic, providing fundamentals of treatment by microsurgical, endovascular or radiosurgical means. While these other treatment modality-focused books delve into the nuances, they generally fail to provide appropriate context for when to consider the other modalities. Compared to aneurysms, AVMs more frequently require a multimodality approach, and are more frequently deemed “inoperable”. This is where Chapters 27 and 28, focusing on multidisciplinary approach and inoperable lesions, make this book unique. These are important topics to understand to provide comprehensive care for patients who suffer from these lesions, and this text provides a good reference for the current state-of-the-art.
Visish Srinivasan, MD
Neurosurgery Resident
Baylor College of Medicine
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Controversies in Spine Surgery MIS vs Open
By Alexander Vaccaro et al.
This text is beautifully written. It provides commentary from MIS and Open spine surgeons. The differing views and opinions are provided in an easy-to-read format. They are discussed in parallel. Each section provides pros and cons of a particular approach. This is helpful in many ways. For example, it allows for ease of use in finding a particular topic or argument. However, a con of this text overall is that it is written for more advanced surgeons. In my opinion, the strong foundation in spine surgery should be attained before approaching this text.
Overall, the text is useful in highlighting the pros and cons of MIS and Open procedures along with providing a detailed list of complications and indications.
Joshua Spear, MD
Neurosurgery Resident
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
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Decision Making in Neurovascular Disease
By Leonardo Rangel-Castilla, Peter Nakaji, Adnan H. Siddiqui, Robert F. Spetzler, and Elad I. Levy
This text is a concerted effort by experts in the field to integrate open and endovascular approaches in the management of cerebrovascular disease. It is intended to be a comprehensive reference and is split into seven sections: ischemic stroke and vascular insufficiency, anterior circulation aneurysms, posterior circulation aneurysms, other aneurysms, arteriovenous malformation and fistulas, cavernous malformations and hypervascular tumors. Each chapter has a section on introduction, decision to treat based on the literature, pre-treatment work-up, treatment tips for both open and endovascular methods, complications avoidance, outcomes and durability and follow-up. Each chapter also contains a suggested treatment algorithm and numerous images. This is a must-have for all neurosurgery, vascular neurology, neuro-interventional residents and fellows.
Redi Rahmani, MD
Neurosurgery Resident
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
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Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Second Edition
By Daniel H. Kim, Gun Choi, Sang-Ho Lee, Richard G. Fessler
Endoscopic spine surgery has seen a resurgence and is rapidly expanding its indications. This updated second edition of Endoscopic Spine Surgery is timely and not surprising. Although publications and presentations on endoscopic spine surgery are escalating, the percentage of adoption among spine surgeons is still in single digits. This book explains the step-by-step procedure, in pictorial form, for various endoscopic approaches. This is convenient for surgeons who are looking to adopt or improvise on these techniques. The book starts with anatomical considerations, clinical presentation and indications, followed by positioning, approach and eventually ending in complication avoidance. Every new approach, whether it is MIS or endoscopic, comes with its own set of complications, which the surgeon needs to be aware of to troubleshoot during the procedure. Videos add bonus content, which is helpful. They also delve into cervical approaches in the latter half of the book. I enjoyed reading this book, particularly the section on migrated disc removal. Finally, the authors are well renowned and experienced surgeons with numerous publications and a great deal of credibility. I believe this textbook is a must-have for residents and surgeons alike who are interested in venturing into endoscopic spine surgery as a part of their armamentarium.
Karthik Madhavan, MD
Neurosurgery Resident
University of Miami
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Handbook of Pediatric Neurosurgery
By Jallo et al.
This text is the definition of efficiency. Jallo et al. did a magnificent job compressing a number of facts into this handbook, making it a very useful and easily perusable text. Each chapter is well-written, containing diagrams, tables and illustrations to better instruct the reader. In addition, each chapter has subsections that are approximately a paragraph in length, making for a quick read. Furthermore, the chapters are followed by a questions and answers component that tests the individual’s retention of information discussed within the preceding chapter. Each of this text’s aforementioned qualities make it an ideal handbook. This is a must-have for pediatric neurosurgical rotation and practice.
Joshua Spear, MD
Neurosurgery Resident
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
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Meningiomas of the Skull Base: Treatment Nuances in Contemporary Neurosurgery
By Paolo Cappabianca and Domenico Solari
This text is a pleasing reference for neurosurgeons in all stages of their career as well as for skull base subspecialists and general neurosurgeons who will encounter meningiomas throughout their scope of practice. After drawing the reader in with historical anecdotes and memoirs to help give an understanding of our collective history, the authors skillfully deliver a comprehensive understanding regarding the state-of-the-art concerning pathology and outside influences affecting meningiomas. Open micro-neurosurgery and stereotactic radiosurgery are discussed, both in the frame of initial treatment and in the management of recurrent disease. The common locations for skull base meningiomas are covered in great detail. As is natural with skull base pathology, the discussion is not only limited to the operative resection approach, but also to the reconstruction of the skull base in order to prevent complications and the management of such complications when they arise. This text is an enjoyable read and a valued resource for skull base surgeons.
Jon Pace, MD
Neurosurgery Resident
Case Western Reserve
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Missile Injuries of the Brain, Spine and Peripheral Nerves
By Harjinder Singh Bhatoe
This is a second edition text by an experienced military neurosurgeon and retired Brigadier of the Indian Armed Forces. The management of craniospinal missile injuries has historically been viewed with nihilism. Yet, trauma management of these injuries remains an important skill for all neurosurgeons to maintain. The difference in military and civilian missile injuries are discussed and it is noted that these types of injuries are becoming more common in civilian populations around the world and are no longer solely isolated to the battlefield. Aspects of craniospinal and peripheral nerve missile, and to a smaller extent non-missile, injuries are outlined to include a brief history of these injury types, ballistic fundamentals and injury pathophysiology and imaging as well as surgical and post-operative management in a concise and well-organized manner. Accordingly, a majority of the book is dedicated to penetrating brain injuries with smaller emphasis on spine and peripheral nerve injuries. By its own admission, this text is not a treatise on the subject and is written with an Indian context for the purpose of filling a gap in the Indian neurotrauma scene. Despite this, the book would be a welcomed addition to any library and serve the young neurosurgeon well by providing a general overview of both civilian and military literature for the current treatment, management and likely outcomes of these injury types.
M. Ben Larkin, MD, PharmD
Neurosurgery Resident
Baylor College of Medicine
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Neurosurgery Fundamentals
By Nitin Agarwal, MD
***YNC MEMBER AUTHOR***
Neurosurgery Fundamentals distills the most crucial information for a trainee to master during neurosurgical training, with comprehensive citations for further exploration and engaging illustrations. This manual begins with a roadmap to a career in neurosurgery, followed by critical milestones in neurosurgical history and beautiful illustrations describing neuroanatomy and neuroradiology. Consideration is given to important neurocritical care topics to ensure holistic care of neurosurgical patients. A number of key topics are discussed, including trauma, vascular, tumor, spine, functional and pediatric neurosurgery. Each of these sections details the most common pathologies within each topic in easy to digest sections with clear supplemental tables. A unique aspect of this book is the list of “Top Hits” questions and answers at the end of each section to ensure understanding and retention of the material. The book ends in especially useful chapters covering socioeconomic issues within neurosurgery and a chapter dedicated to “Advice from the Masters” with lists of key books in the field, journals to publish research in, conferences to attend, grants and awards to apply for, leadership opportunities and recommended board preparation materials. This book will invariably become an essential text for sub-interns wishing to excel on their sub-internships and residents planning to keep a concise, exhaustive review of neurosurgery in their coat pocket.
Joseph R. Linzey, MS
University of Michigan School of Medicine
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Neurosurgical Operative Atlas: Functional Neurosurgery. 3rd Edition
By Robert Gross and Nicholas Boulis
Now in its third installment, this text provides the rationale, techniques and outcomes for all functional procedures. More than 70 percent of the text is updated to include new technologies in the field, including laser ablation, MRI based platforms, asleep DBS and robotic enhanced surgery as well as new indications for DBS, such as depression and OCD. Chapters include epilepsy, movement and psychiatric disorders, pediatrics; radiosurgery; pain; and hydrocephalus. Each chapter includes an introduction for background knowledge, pre-operative planning, an operative procedure section and post-operative management. In each chapter there are drawings, images and charts to illustrate the concepts discussed. This is a must-own for all neurosurgery residents, functional fellows and those early in their career.
Redi Rahmani, MD
Neurosurgery Resident
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
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Seven Bypasses: Tenets and Techniques for Revascularization
By Michael T. Lawton
Seven Bypasses is the newest in a trilogy of tomes in cerebrovascular surgery, following the footsteps of definitive texts for cerebral aneurysms and AVMs. As Robert Spetzler, MD, FAANS, notes in the foreword, the unique characteristic of the Seven trilogy is that Dr. Lawton provides a singular, clear voice, making it very readable. Unlike reading other texts, with each chapter written by a different group of experts, Dr. Lawton’s text provides an easily understandable synthesis of the field. Preparing for a recent case, I was immensely thankful to have Seven Bypasses already on my bookshelf. Other texts I had gave me an explanation of the history of bypass, patient selection and a few important tips for performing the anastomosis. In this book, Dr. Lawton mentions the analogy of “throwing your hat over the wall” as a metaphor for making the arteriotomy – a point of no return, a point at which one must simply perform the bypass.
From previous study, bypass surgery – even after seeing cases and attending courses – seemed like it was a bit out of reach. The cases are rare and it would take too long to amass the experience to appreciate all the nuances. In Seven Bypasses, Dr. Lawton masterfully flattens the learning curve by providing a true “bite-by-bite” guide to the anastomosis. All the questions one could ever imagine about bypass are answered in painstaking detail. This is demonstrated by the nuanced explanation of how to actually pass the needle through the vessel (short answer: it is not “pulled”). Further details allow this to be a comprehensive reference as well: “what is the size mismatch between the OA and the PCA?”, “how many bites per millimeter of vessel?” or “how much larger can a fish-mouth arteriotomy be than an oblique transection?” The final sections on the more exotic, complex bypasses function as both a guide for those brave enough to tackle them and as an inspiration for young neurosurgeons. This is exemplified by one of the final tables in the book – the “dream bypasses.” As he explained at a YNC lecture at the 2018 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting, Dr. Lawton sincerely hopes that the next generation will find ways to make these bypasses happen as a solution for patients that need them. I think that the first step to getting there is reading Seven Bypasses.
Visish Srinivasan, MD
Neurosurgery Resident
Baylor College of Medicine
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The Business, Policy, and Economics of Neurosurgery
By Richard Menger et al.
This new textbook, written by recently graduated neurosurgeon Richard Menger, MD, and colleagues provides an excellent resource for residents, fellows and practicing neurosurgeons alike. This book addresses a gap in the current curricula for neurosurgical trainees: the basic tenets of health care economics, policy and the business of medicine as it applies to neurosurgery. This knowledge base is absolutely essential to effectively navigate this specialty, whether building one’s own practice or advocating on behalf of patients. Overall, there are 27 chapters covering a range of topics from different payment models, private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, to the development of health care policy. It not only explains business and economic concepts and theories but also breaks down the mechanics of billing, coding, grant writing and more. Authors include both economists and neurosurgeons, providing a spectrum of perspectives. This text will particularly serve young neurosurgeons well by providing readers with the competitive edge that comes along with understanding the financial complexities of neurosurgery.
Laura McGuire, MD
Neurosurgery Resident
University of Illinois at Chicago
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Surgical Care of the Painful Degenerative Lumbar Spine
By Edgar Weaver, Jr.
Back pain is one of the most common symptoms in medicine and nearly every individual suffers from it at some point in their lifetime. This book addresses the elephant in the room by providing an overview of approaching patients with back pain. As a spine surgeon, it is important to identify the origin of pain, which can be from the disc, facet, hip or neurogenic claudication or neuropathy from entrapment syndromes. This differentiation is critical as the management of the various etiologies differs. This book provides information on these pathologies succinctly, including an overview of pelvic parameters. Currently, there are no specific guidelines for fusion on symptomatic painful degenerative lumbar spine and this text highlights that issue well. Finally, the last chapter on socioeconomics is a must-read for understanding expenses encountered in spine care, ethics and reimbursement.
This book is best for spine surgeons who have some experience in management of spine patients and are already board-certified. At this point, spine surgeons are in a state of intellectual growth from independent management of complex spine problems and complications. This book adds an additional layer of knowledge to bolster the experience and improve decision-making.
Karthik Madhavan, MD
Neurosurgery Resident
University of Miami