Spinal cord injury (SCI) results from damage to the spinal cord due to trauma or disease and leads to partial or complete paralysis. Following SCI, physiological and lifestyle changes can lead to poor health outcomes. However, advances in injury stabilisation, medical treatment and rehabilitation have led to an increase in life expectancy. In this book, the authors present current research on the causes, risk factors and management of spinal cord injury. Topics include pain management following spinal cord injury; exercise training and its relation to slow bone loss in SCI; palliative and therapeutic strategies for SCI; NO-cGMP signalling in bulbospinal respiratory pathway after cervical spinal cord injury; and posterior pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures.

"Rapid Neurology and Neurosurgery" is a must for all medical students and junior doctors - it is a quick and easy on-the-ward or clinic reference and the perfect revision tool for those approaching finals, undergraduate neurology and neurosurgery examinations, and the Membership of Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) examinations.

It provides a concise, structured approach to neurology and neurosurgery learning, covering key facts in a simple and memorable way: Part I - The Basics - features the basic principles and facts essential for a good understanding of neurology and neurosurgery and includes sections on relevant neuroanatomy; neurological history and examination; and investigations including neurophysiology and neuroradiology. MRI and CT scans are included throughout the text.Part II - Complaints: face to face with the patient - features OSCE-style and the viva-voce examination preparation and has chapters on presenting complaints with relevant and selected questions to ask for establishing the differential diagnoses (presented in a table) with basic investigations and management.Part III - Conditions: applying the basics - presents important clinical conditions with sections on definition; epidemiology; aetiology; associations/risk factors; pathology; history; examination; investigations; management; complications; prognosis and a list of differential diagnoses usually in a table with general clinical information and distinguishing information to exclude the alternative diagnoses.

Each chapter also includes key points to remember and highlights key facts.

"Rapid Neurology and Neurosurgery" contains only the essential, core, and relevant facts in a concise, pocket-sized, 'rapid' refresher providing a thorough foundation of neurology and neurosurgery knowledge allowing you to excel in the examinations.

Benefits: - Leblancs new investigative technique allows the rapid visualisation of the most vulnerable points of the cranial nerves - the course of each nerve is studied radiologically and anatomically, using dissections, injections, serial macroscopic sections, and x-rays - each cranial nerve is depicted from its origin to the muscle with its intracranial, extracranial, and intracranial pathways - the start of each chapter features an illustration of the cranial nerve as a whole, allowing the reader to quickly memorize the cranial anatomy - unique full-colour illustrations make the atlas a reference of outstanding value to clinicians, researchers and students

Peripheral nerves are biologic wires that convey the desire for motion from brain to muscle, and the experience of touch from skin to brain. When a nerve is cut, the individual fibers, or axons, must regenerate from the site of injury to reconnect with their skin and muscle targets. Nerve regeneration is a process of bewildering complexity that requires the coordinated action of multiple biologic systems. Gene expression within the neuron is altered to support axon growth, regenerating axons must cross the complex environment of the nerve injury and enter pathways that lead to functionally appropriate end organs, Wallerian degeneration clears these pathways of axon debris, and Schwann cells in the distal nerve must produce growth factors to support regeneration. In spite of this complexity, the surgical repair of transected nerve remains a mechanical process that has changed little in the last century, and that restores normal function to only 10% of adults with nerve injuries. Improving the outcome of nerve repair will require close cooperation between surgeon and scientist. Skyrocketing clinical demands on the surgeon and the rapidly increasing sophistication of neuroscience have interacted to form two distinct cultures. Nerve Repair bridges these cultures by providing a translational review of the clinical and basic science relevant to nerve repair. It provides the clinician with an understanding of pertinent research, and the basic scientist with an overview of the clinical manifestations of nerve injury and regeneration. It is also grounded in the history of peripheral nerve surgery and biology so that modern concepts can be understood in the context of their origins.

This book is a comprehensive guide to Targeted Drug Delivery (TDD), also known as Intrathecal Drug Delivery (IDD), and offers an overview to this unique form of treatment. The medication is delivered by intrathecal pumps and is less common than some other techniques for interventional pain management, but is essential in conditions such as refractory pain, cancer pain, multifocal pain, severe spasticity, and in patients who are not candidates for surgical correction of their underlying condition. This book is the first source to describe both the optimal surgical implantation and patient management aspect of this therapy, and thus will be a valuable single reference guide for interventional radiologists, anesthesiologists, physiatrists, oncologists, neurologists, spine surgeons, palliative care physicians, and primary care physicians.

This book is a combination of ideas and experiences from over 100 dedicated and brilliant neurosurgeons around the world. Their common goal is to provide data for a deeper understanding of the multi-faceted aspects of neurosurgery and, by doing so, to better serve patients across the globe. Scientific curiosity, deep dedication, incredible work ethics, entrepreneurship, and creativity are the common traits among all neurosurgeons, and not the exception. By allowing readers to see the field of neurosurgery from the perspectives of surgeons spanning five continents, this book serves to provide multiple, diverse viewpoints and to build a foundation for future collaborations. The book's 24 chapters are organized into 3 parts. Part I provides the reader with an overview of the role of neurosurgery in worldwide health care, its evolution over the past decades, the current state and future directions of each neurosurgical subspecialty across the five continents. Over the years, the overarching goal for neurosurgeons has been to develop new, more effective and high-end solutions for complex diseases and to provide access to neurosurgical services for all patients. Part II discusses the differences and similarities of neurosurgery education and training across the globe, providing a snapshot of how new tools, technology, and paradigms reduce inequality and increase access to neurosurgical education. Educational accomplishments and challenges still present for the in different regions of the world are reviewed. Part III focuses on economic aspects influencing neurosurgery globally, including how to make efficient decisions in the face of scarcity, yet demand. The authors provide theories, models, and tools helpful to apply when planning to allocate resources, not just financial, but also human and intellectual. A deeper understanding of economics does not necessarily provide the answer to the problem; rather it provides the tools to find an answer, or, ideally, multiple possible solutions. Neurosurgery and Global Health is the first comprehensive guide to the role of neurosurgery in the global health care sphere, providing an in-depth compendium about the understanding of the neurosurgical role within global health, its efforts in the education of tomorrow's workforce, and the economic aspects driving the field.

Designed to challenge the reader and bring active participation and efficiency to the learning and review process, this indispensable study guide is the ideal companion to the sixth edition of Dr. Greenberg's bestselling "Handbook of Neurosurgery." Developed from Dr. Kranzler's highly regarded annual review course, the text fully explores each neurosurgical topic and breaks down complex subjects into digestible bits with over 7,000 individual questions and answers. Each question topic is referenced to a specific page in Greenberg's "Handbook" to enable readers to easily find relevant background material. Packed with mnemonic devices, helpful hints, and study charts, this book is an essential review tool that tests and reinforces knowledge as it teaches.

Highlights: Over 7,000 strategically sequenced questions and answers that directly refer to a specific location in the "Handbook"Short answers that appear on the same page as questions to save time Emphasis on repetition and alternate arrangements of material to aid comprehension and retention Progressive withdrawal of cues that forces users to recall more and more information

The ideal companion to Dr. Greenberg's acclaimed reference text, this book is a valuable study guide for residents, fellows, and clinicians in neurosurgery, neurology, neuroradiology, and neuropathology preparing for board or recertification exams.

'It's a brilliant book... There are lessons in every paragraph... Get it now.' Chris Evans 'Wonderous and wild. I loved this book' James Nestor, bestselling author of Breath 'Moving, raw and unflinching' Julia Samuel, bestselling author of This Too Shall Pass 'Incredible storytelling' Dr Rangan Chatterjee, bestselling author of Feel Better in 5 ____________________________________________________________________________ How do you carry on when things go deadly wrong? When Dr Rahul Jandial operated on Karina, an eleven-year-old girl whose spinal cord was splitting in two, he had to make an impossible decision. He followed his head over his gut and Karina was left permanently paralysed, altering both patient and surgeon's lives for ever. This decision would haunt Rahul for decades, a constant reminder of the fine line between saving and damaging a life. As one of the world's leading brain surgeons, Rahul is the last hope for patients with extreme forms of cancer. In treating them, he has observed humanity at its most raw and most robust. He has journeyed to unimaginable extremes with them, guiding them through the darkest moments of their lives. Life on a Knife's Edge is Rahul's poetic and beautifully written account of the resilience, courage and belief he has witnessed in his patients, and the lessons about human nature he has learned from them. It is about the impossible choices he has to make, and the fateful consequences he is forced to live with. From challenging the ethics of surgical practices, to helping a patient with locked-in syndrome communicate her dying wish to her family, Rahul shares his extraordinary experiences, revealing the depths of a surgeon's psyche that is continuously pushed to its limits.

This book bridges the gap between data scientists and clinicians by introducing all relevant aspects of machine learning in an accessible way, and will certainly foster new and serendipitous applications of machine learning in the clinical neurosciences. Building from the ground up by communicating the foundational knowledge and intuitions first before progressing to more advanced and specific topics, the book is well-suited even for clinicians without prior machine learning experience. Authored by a wide array of experienced global machine learning groups, the book is aimed at clinicians who are interested in mastering the basics of machine learning and who wish to get started with their own machine learning research. The volume is structured in two major parts: The first uniquely introduces all major concepts in clinical machine learning from the ground up, and includes step-by-step instructions on how to correctly develop and validate clinical prediction models. It also includes methodological and conceptual foundations of other applications of machine learning in clinical neuroscience, such as applications of machine learning to neuroimaging, natural language processing, and time series analysis. The second part provides an overview of some state-of-the-art applications of these methodologies. The Machine Intelligence in Clinical Neuroscience (MICN) Laboratory at the Department of Neurosurgery of the University Hospital Zurich studies clinical applications of machine intelligence to improve patient care in clinical neuroscience. The group focuses on diagnostic, prognostic and predictive analytics that aid in decision-making by increasing objectivity and transparency to patients. Other major interests of our group members are in medical imaging, and intraoperative applications of machine vision.

This book provides an in-depth review of the current state of knowledge on the intracranial chronic subdural hematoma, with an emphasis on the etiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, anatomic pathology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, imaging findings, and treatment modalities, both medical and surgical. Sections on the postoperative complications, prognosis, and medicolegal aspects of this illness are also included. Lastly, the book considers future areas of investigation and innovative therapeutic philosophies. This richly illustrated book will help the reader choose the most appropriate way to manage this challenging neurosurgical disease process. It is an ideal resource for neuroscientists at all levels, from graduate students to research scientists, including neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuroradiologists, and pediatricians, and for those seeking both basic and more advanced information regarding the craniospinal subdural hematoma, including acute, subacute and chronic ones.

Praise for "The Lobotomist"

"Written with such clarity and engaging detail that a reader has difficulty in putting it down."
--"The New York Review of Books"

"One of the many virtues of El-Hai's text is the rich detail he provides about Freeman's life and ideas."
--"Los Angeles Times"

"Fascinating . . . an important and disturbing contribution to the history of psychiatry."
--"New Statesman"

"Captivating. . . . No history of modern psychiatry is complete without this story."
--Andrew Solomon, author of "The Noonday Demon"

"The Lobotomist" explores one of the darkest chapters of American medicine: the desperate attempt to treat the hundreds of thousands of psychiatric patients in need of help during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Into this crisis stepped Walter Freeman, M.D., who saw a solution in lobotomy, a brain operation intended to reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms. Although many patients did not benefit from the thousands of lobotomies Freeman performed, others believed their lobotomies changed them for the better.

Drawing on a rich collection of documents Freeman left behind and interviews with Freeman's family, Jack El-Hai takes a penetrating look into the life of this complex scientific genius and traces the physician's fascinating life and work.

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the contemporary management of all aspects of traumatic brain injury (TBI), combining the findings of several recent randomised controlled trials investigating the role of hypothermia, erythropoietin, intracranial pressure monitoring and decompressive craniectomy in the management of TBI. The book is divided into four sections: the first section covers the epidemiology of TBI, the changing global patterns of presentation, and the basic pathophysiology and classification, while the second discusses contemporary management of TBI, from pre-hospital care, emergency assessment, and medical and surgical management to rehabilitation and social reintegration. The third section then examines the evidence gained from recent clinical trials that have investigated the efficacy of management strategies involving intracranial pressure monitoring, multimodal monitoring, hypothermia, erythropoietin, thromboembolic prophylaxis and decompressive craniectomy. Lastly, the fourth section explores the ethical issues, both at the societal level and on an individual basis. Written by a broad range of experts, this book provides a valuable reference resource for neurosurgeons, intensivists, clinicians with ethical experience and pure bioethicists in their daily work.

This book is a detailed resource on the technical aspects of pediatric neurosurgery that relate to vascular malformations of the brain and spinal cord. It introduces concepts relevant to cerebrovascular system development and the classification of vascular malformations. Information on a range of disorders is then provided with an emphasis placed on answering frequently asked questions in relation to a particular condition. Therefore, enabling the reader to systematically improve their understanding of how approach treating patients utilizing techniques such as ultrasound and spinal angiography. The chapters, authored by experts in their respective field, provide a standard of care based on current diagnostic and management guidelines for pediatric neurosurgical diseases. Pediatric Vascular Neurosurgery: Technical Nuances in Contemporary Pediatric Neurosurgery (Part 2) is a comprehensive overview of how to approach diagnosing and treating a range of vascular malformations encountered in pediatric patients. The problem-solving approach of this work makes it a valuable addition to the literature and suitable for use by residents, fellows and consultants within pediatrics and allied specialities, including Neurosurgery, Neurology, Neuro-anesthesia, Neuro-critical care and advanced health care providers amongst others.

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). It regulates normal CNS function, is a major participant in pathology, and serves learning, memory, and higher cognitive functions. The 12 chapters of this book provide the first comprehensive coverage of all the major features of glutamate as excitatory neurotransmitter. The book begins with a valuable historical backdrop. Building from a chapter on the common structure of glutamate receptors, several others cover the major ionotropic receptors, their structure, function, and pharmacology. A follow-up chapter discusses the metabotropic receptors that are directly coupled to second messenger metabolism. A central theme of the book is the capacity of the excitatory amino acid system to contribute to the diverse array of signaling systems in the CNS as a direct result of the large assortment of receptors (including, for the ionotropic receptors, various subunits) the combination of which determine distinct functional properties. A recent development in the field discussed in several chapters is the biochemical characterization of a supermolecular protein complex, the post-synaptic density, that makes the unique structure of excitatory synapses. This complex subserves the experience-dependent modulation of synaptic strength and synaptic plasticity, and gives the synapse the capacity to change dynamically in both structure and receptor composition. Drawing on the individual properties of the receptors, transporters, and functional architecture of the synapse, the concluding chapters describe the functional integration of these components in the more complex physiological processes of plasticity and pathology. Recognition that the regulation of excitatory amino acid receptor activity underlies the pathology of many neurological diseases, including stroke, Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia, has opened up an exciting frontier that will allow the translation of our understanding of these basic mechanisms into new concepts of pathology and new therapeutic strategies. This book will be invaluable for neuroscientists, pharmacologists, neurologists, and psychiatrists, and for their students and trainees.

Drawing from original correspondence penned by lobotomy patients and their families as well as from the professional papers of lobotomy pioneer and neurologist Walter Freeman, The Lobotomy Letters gives an account of the widespread acceptance of this controversial procedure. The rise and widespread acceptance of psychosurgery constitutes one of the most troubling chapters in the history of modern medicine. By the late 1950s, tens of thousands of Americans had been lobotomized as treatment for a host of psychiatric disorders. Though the procedure would later be decried as devastating and grossly unscientific, many patients, families, and physicians reported veritable improvement from the surgery; some patients were even considered cured. The Lobotomy Letters gives an account of why this controversial procedure was sanctioned by psychiatrists and doctors of modern medicine. Drawing from original correspondence penned by lobotomy patients andtheir families as well as from the professional papers of lobotomy pioneer and neurologist Walter Freeman, the volume reconstructs how physicians, patients, and their families viewed lobotomy and analyzes the reasons for its overwhelming use. Mical Raz, MD/PhD, is a physician and historian of medicine.

This book gathers the proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Intracranial Pressure and Neuromonitoring, held in Leuven, Belgium in September 2019. It provides an overview of the current understanding, underlying research and future perspectives concerning pathophysiology, biophysics, monitoring and management in traumatic and non-traumatic acute brain injury, hydrocephalus and spinal cord injury, including cerebrovascular autoregulation impairment in neurological as well as non-neurological diseases. The peer-reviewed contributions were prepared by specialists in neurosurgery, neurointensive care and neuroanesthesiology, as well as prominent experts from the fields of physiology, clinical and biomedical engineering, mathematics and informatics. The book continues the time-honored tradition of publishing key presentations from the ICP Conferences in order to facilitate their dissemination within the clinical and research community.

Fully illustrated and enhanced with accompanying video clips, this comprehensive text presents the clinical evaluation and management of brachial plexus injuries and reconstruction, both for adult patients and birth injuries. Divided into two main sections, part one covers adult brachial plexus injuries, discussing the relevant anatomy and biology, epidemiology, and associated injuries. The main focus, however, is on diagnosis - the clinical exam as well as neurodiagnostic and radiographic evaluation - and surgical management approaches and techniques, including nerve grafting and transfers, tendon and muscle transfers, and joint fusion. Related topics are presented in chapters on sensory reinnervation, neuropathic pain management, the role of amputation and prosthetics, and pre- and post-surgical therapy protocols. Brachial plexus birth injury is described in part two, also focusing mainly on diagnosis and management but with an emphasis on the fact that babies are not small adults and special considerations are warranted. This section concludes with chapters on the management of late complications and long-term sequelae. A comprehensive surgical text on brachial plexus injuries has not been previously attempted. Filling a large gap in the literature, Operative Brachial Plexus Surgery is the go-to resource for adult and birth related brachial plexus reconstruction for orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, plastics surgeons, and their trainees.

This updated second edition provides a practical and succinct overview of basic neuropathology. Key concepts and basic principles are covered and discussed with particular focus on recent advances, classification, and genetics. Practical points are included to detail how to best use the neuropathology service and interpret the results of pathological tests. Neuropathology Simplified aims to aid the development of multidisciplinary teams and help clinical trainees understand recent advances in neuropathological disorders. The book is also relevant to trainee and resident neurologists, pathologists, and neurosurgeons.

Many neurological conditions are caused by damage to neurons and glial cells. For most of these diseases there are at present no effective treatments to minimize the extent of neuronal and glial loss, and no effective way of replacing what has been lost. This picture is rapidly changing. Developments in basic neuroscience have produced various potential therapies that can protect neurons and glia following traumatic, anoxic, infectious and immunological damage. The old doctrine that axons cannot be made to regenerate, and dead neurons cannot be replaced is no longer tenable, and a wide variety of reconstructive techniques for the nervous system are under development. These and other basic science discoveries will progress into clinical practice, and lead to a revolution in neurology and neurosurgery. This book describes the various conditions that lead to damage to the nervous system, and the ways in which they may be ameliorated. It covers the burgeoning science of reconstruction of the nervous system, through neuronal, glial and stem cell transplantation, axon regeneration, remyelination, plasticity and pharmacological interventions.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the management of brain and skull base tumors. It features detailed insight into the intrinsic molecular biology, anatomical foundation, radiological planning, surgical execution, and the novel therapeutics that guide today's treatment regimens. The first section features concepts related to the epidemiology and pathological basis of disease processes, including relevant cellular and molecular biology. In the second section, integral anatomical foundations and principles are covered including microsurgical anatomy of the cerebrum, white matter tracts, ventricles, brainstem, skull base, advancements in radiological imaging, and cognitive examinations. Surgical approaches and how to execute these procedures are then subsequently discussed in the third part of the work. Principles of Neuro-Oncology: Brain & Skull Base is a practically applicable guide to the latest treatment techniques available to treat these patients. Therefore, it is an indispensable resource for all physicians who utilize these methodologies in their day-to-day practice.

This book integrates neuroscience research on neuroplasticity with clinical investigation of reorganization of function after brain injury, especially from the perspective of eventually translating the findings to rehabilitation. Historical foundationw in neuroplasticity research are presented to provide a perspective for recent findings. Leading investigators synthesize their work with research from other laboratories to provide a current update on neuroanatomic features which enhance enuroplasticity and provide a substrate for reorginaization of function. The capacity for recovery from brain injury associated with focal lesions as compared to diffuse cerebral insult is discussed. Interventions such as environmental enhancement and drugs to enhance reorganizatioin of function after brain injury have been studied in animalmodels and in human studies. Methodologies to study neurophysiological measures, trancranial magnetic stimulation, and computational modeling. Implications of neuroplasticity research for innovations in rehabilitation of persons with brain injury are critically reviewed.

This book, written by renowned experts from across the world, provides readers with a detailed and up-to-date understanding of posterior circulation stroke and its management. Anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical syndromes, and imaging findings are clearly and thoroughly described with the aid of illustrative cases and schematic drawings. The management-oriented chapters explain all forms of treatment, including the use of antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants, thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, stenting, and surgical therapy, i.e., bypass and decompression. Throughout, full account is taken of recent significant advances in knowledge and clinical practice. Stroke affecting the posterior circulation continues to pose particular challenges for clinicians. This book will help readers to avoid misdiagnosis, which still occurs far too frequently, and to manage individual patients optimally. It will be an excellent learning resource for residents in neurology, neurosurgery, radiology, interventional radiology, and vascular surgery, as well as an ideal reference for more experienced practitioners in these specialties.

Sir Victor Horsley (1857-1916) was a brilliant and pioneering neurosurgeon who also shaped the direction of clinical medicine through his work with the British Medical Association, Medical Defence Union, and General Medical Council. Before the nervous system could be imaged, Horsley operated successfully on the brain and spinal cord, and performed palliative procedures on patients dying from brain tumours. Nevertheless, he became a social pariah due to his support for nationalised health insurance, child welfare and women's rights, amongst other causes. In this fascinating biography, leading neurologist Dr Michael J. Aminoff places Horsley's life and work in the context of the society in which he lived and explores his influence on the development of neurosurgery and social policies still in effect. The many underlying themes to the book include the interplay of science and politics, and the responsibility of physicians to themselves and for the welfare of society.