BOOK REVIEW

MICROSURGERY 28:487 2008

SURGERY OF PERIPHERAL NERVES—A CASE-BASED APPROACH

By Rajiv Midha, M.D. and Eric L. Zager, M.D.

New York: Thieme; 2008, 288 pages, $109.95

Reviewed by Feng Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.

Surgical management of peripheral nerve disorders is

a dynamic field that continues to pose a formidable chal-

lenge in reconstructive surgery. Developments in this

area require ongoing attentiveness by both clinicians and

researchers. There have been many books devoted to pe-

ripheral nerve surgery in past decades. This case-based

book, edited by Drs. Midha and Zager, provides educa-

tional review to residents, fellows, practicing peripheral

nerve surgeons, and reconstructive microsurgeons, while

engaging its readers’ interest and attention.

As Dr. David Kline describes in the Foreword,

‘‘Pearls and pitfalls offer valuable, at-a-glance informa-

tion for optimizing patient care.’’ In this text the authors

seek to provide a descriptive approach in a case-based

format for guiding the diagnosis and treatment of periph-

eral nerve disorders. With this manner of presentation,

the readers would indeed find that the book’s content

works to narrow the gap between text book knowledge

and the management of their patients.

This book contains of 4 sections: brachial plexus inju-

ries and entrapments; upper extremity peripheral nerve

injuries entrapments; lower extremity peripheral nerve

injuries and entrapments; and nerve tumors, nerve conditions

that cause pain, and miscellaneous injuries. The total 57 chap-

ters were contributed by over 60 leading experts in the field of

peripheral nerve surgery.

Each chapter begins with a relatively typical case of

the subject, followed by diagnosis, anatomy of the

affected area, presentation of clinical characteristics, sug-

gestions for diagnostic tests, and treatment options. Dis-

cussion of differential diagnosis and management strat-

egies provides an informative framework for those inex-

perienced practitioners for dealing with a particular

clinical problem.

Treatment strategies include design of surgery and

surgical approach, along with intraoperative findings. The

microsurgical nerve repair techniques are well described

in most chapters. The authors also summarize ‘‘Pearls

and Pitfalls’’ in each chapter, which highlight critical fea-

tures of management options in association with outcome

and prognoses. The end of each chapter includes a list of

suggested readings that provide excellent sources for

reviews of the literature for young readers.

This book is well organized, well written, and illumi-

nated by beautiful photographs and precise line drawings,

which reward thoughtful reading. I unreservedly recom-

mend this text to anyone interested in peripheral nerve

surgery. I believe that this text will be especially helpful

to fellows and residents beginning clinical work. How-

ever, it will also provide definite benefits, derived from

the experiences of the experts in this field, to all the

book’s readers.

Published online 11 July 2008 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/micr.20548

VVC 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.