Fessler RG, Sekhar LN. Atlas of Neurosurgical Techniques: Spine and Peripheral Nerves. 2nd ed. Thieme; 2016; 994 pp; 1300 ill; $399.99
Despite interpreting a considerable number of post-operative spine images daily, a radiologist may not understand the exact steps taken in these surgical procedures. The second edition of Atlas of Neurosurgical Techniques: Spine and Peripheral Nerves, edited by Drs. Fessler and Sekhar, allows one to gain an appreciation of the maneuvers taken in all of the key surgeries of the spine and peripheral nerves. With over 150 contributing authors and nearly the same number of chapters, one can—with the help of descriptions, copious diagrams, operative photographs, and even some videos (available online via a registration process)—understand the basics of all operations and clinical situations we constantly encounter in image interpretation.
There are six sections: occipital–cervical junction (21 chapters), cervical spine (20 chapters), cervicothoracic junction (5 chapters), thoracic spine (36 chapters), lumbar spine (42 chapters), and peripheral nerves (21 chapters), all of which cover 950 pages.
Some chapters are short and simply descriptive, while others, such as the chapter on vascular malformations, are written in greater depth. As would be expected, there are many images (e.g., plain radiographs, CTs, and MRs), but there has been no specific radiologist input. Nonetheless, our interest in this book lies in how procedures are done, not in the interpretation of the images.
This is not a book that a neuroradiologist would purchase; however, neurosurgery libraries would probably carry this atlas (in addition to Fessler’s Atlas of Neurosurgical Techniques: Brain). Therefore, both would hopefully be available in the event that one wanted information concerning a particular surgical procedure.
