Surgical Management of Spinal Cord Injury

Surgical Management of Spinal Cord Injury: Controversies and Consensus reviews the controversies pertaining to the emergency, diagnostic, medical, and surgical management of spinal cord injury (SCI).

In vitro studies, animal models, and clinical outcome analyses have all failed to yield incontrovertible guidelines that define the role of surgery in SCI. As a result, there is no consensus regarding the necessity, timing, nature, or approach of surgical intervention. In this concise yet comprehensive book some of the leading authorities in the field scrutinize the scientific data and summarize the foundations of rational treatment paradigms.

Specific topics include:

• the timing of decompressive surgery
• the adjunctive use of solumedrol
• management of penetrating injuries
• radiographic evaluation
• spinal stabilization
• pediatric SCI

Surgical Management of Spinal Cord Injury is an essential new book for all members of the patient care team involved in spinal cord injury.

Foreword by Charles H. Tator.

Foreword by Michael L. J. Apuzzo.

1 Pathogenesis of acute spinal cord injury and theoretical bases of neurological recovery.

Arun Paul Amar.

2 Pharmacotherapy for spinal cord injury.

Steven Casha, Joseph Silvaggio and R. John Hurlbert.

3 Prehospital and emergency department management of spinal cord injury.

Stuart P. Swadron, Danny L. Chang and Brian Wilbur.

4 Radiographic workup of spinal cord injury.

Nestor R. Gonzalez, Larry T. Khoo and Richard G. Fessler.

5 Controversies in surgical decompression: timing of decompressive surgery of the spinal cord.

Mark S. Gerber and Volker K.H. Sonntag.

6 Biomechanics of spinal column failure.

Eric P. Roger, G. Alexander Jones and Edward C. Benzel.

7 Principles of spine stabilization.

G. Alexander Jones, Eric P. Roger and Edward C. Benzel.

8 Controversies in the management of cervical spinal cord injury.

Paul G. Matz and Mark N. Hadley.

9 Surgical decision-making in spinal fracture dislocations.

Robert G. Watkins.

10 Spinal cord injury in pediatric patients.

Philipp R. Aldana and Douglas L. Brockmeyer.

11 Management of penetrating spinal cord injury.

K. Anthony Kim, Arun Paul Amar and Michael L. Levy.

12 Traumatic vascular injury to the cervical spine.

Michael L. DiLuna and Arun Paul Amar.

13 Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring during spinal surgery.

Indro Chakrabarti, Jerry Larson, Gordon L. Engler and Steven L. Giannotta.

14 Surgery after the acute phase of traumatic spinal cord injury.

Michael Y. Wang and Barth A. Green.

Index

From the forewords:

“Arun Amar has performed a real service to the practitioners involved in the surgical management of spinal injuries by putting together this excellent group of papers, and I am optimistic that the knowledge transfer will result in improved patient outcomes.”
Charles H. Tator, CM, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS
University of Toronto and Toronto Western Hospital

“The content of this volume is essential material for all clinical neuro-scientists and an important presentation for all those seeking to develop a grasp of modernity of concept and practical action relating to this problem.”
Michael L. J. Apuzzo, M.D.
Editor-in-Chief of Neurosurgery

"This is a good book for any emergency room or neurosciences library."
Doodys Review

Arun Paul Amar, MD., Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. Surgical Management of Spinal Cord Injury is an essential new book for all members of the patient care team involved in spinal cord injury.

In vitro studies, animal models, and clinical outcome analyses have all failed to yield incontrovertible guidelines that define the role of surgery in SCI. As a result, there is no consensus regarding the necessity, timing, nature, or approach of surgical intervention. In this concise yet comprehensive book some of the leading authorities in the field scrutinize the scientific data and summarize the foundations of rational treatment paradigms.