Acta Neurochir (Wien) (2005) 147: 913

DOI 10.1007/s00701-005-0560-0

Book ReviewOperative Exposures in Peripheral Nerve Surgery

A. H. Maniker, Thieme, ISBN 1-58890-293-5 (America) ISBN

3-13-140281-4

Operative Exposures in Peripheral Nerve Surgery from Allen

Maniker, an Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery from North

America, based in New Jersey, will probably appeal to a minority of

neurosurgeons in the British Isles who have a major specialty in nerve

surgery; but this is an excellent text with superb anatomical dissections.

There is detail to the level of the exposure of the brachial plexus down to

the median nerve at the wrist. For those of us whose main peripheral

nerve interest is in entrapment neuropathy there is useful information in

this book. It would also be a useful reference in a department for the few

occasions when more unusual surgery is to be undertaken. The emphasis

is on anatomy and exposure of structure with accompanying text noting

surgical technique as well as positioning. The level of detail certainly

goes beyond that found in standard neurosurgical text books; therefore

this would be a useful addition to a departmental library or, alternatively

a very useful adjunct to the reference knowledge base of anyone devot-

ing time to surgery of the peripheral nerves. This text would be useful

for trainees who would certainly benefit from the detailed description of

the more common exposures of the peripheral nerves as well as giving

information on the more complex nerves and the skills required for

exposure. As well as being a text aimed at neurosurgeons this would

appeal to orthopaedic and reconstructive surgeons and indeed to general

surgeons; again it would be an adjunct for trainees and an excellent

reference for experienced practitioners.

Paul Byrne

Consultant Neurosurgeon at Queen’s Medical Centre Nottingham