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The hand
The Hand--February 1977
BOOK REVIEWS
T R A U M A T I C N E R V E LESIONS OF T H E U P P E R LIMB by J. Michon and E. Moberg with chapters by E. E. Almquist, A. Bischoff, G. Bonte, D. Brooks, O. Eeg-Olofsson, G. H. Fallet, K. O. Fetrow, F. Iselin, H. Millesi, G. E. Omer, J. M. Paquin, B. Petyt, J. P. Razemon, J. Roullet, J. W. Smith, E. Spry, R. Tubiana. 22 cm. x 28.5 cm. 110 pages. 75 figures, 8 tables. Bibliography. Index. 1975 Edinburgh, New York, Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 0 443 01057 9. Price s This short book is the second of the monographs of the Groupe d'Etude de la Main to be translated into English. The contributions, based on papers presented at a G.E.M. meeting in Paris in 1969 are by sixteen different authors, mostly European. Some present the results of new research, while others are subject reviews. The first two chapters are on anatomical aspects, and the next five on various methods of assessment and investigation of nerve function, including electromyography and neurography. Two chapters concern re-education of nerve function. One, by Almquist, shows that blind Braille readers have better two-point discrimination than control subjects. Almquist also contributes a study of the results of nerve suture at different ages, suggesting that the better results in children are due to the greater adaptability of their central nervous system, rather than to better regeneration of the peripheral nerve. The remaining six chapters deal with surgical repair of nerve injuries. Several authors emphasise the value of the operating microscope and the importance of fascicular suture rather than simple epineural suture. There is a particularly valuable and well written chapter by J. W. Smith, in which he aptly compares the fasciculi of a nerve to pieces of cooked spaghetti. Those who find it difficult to suture spaghetti will be attracted by the methods of repair described by Smith and Michon. The English translation is rather uneven, and it is a pity that English terminology is not used: is "N. cubital" the ulnar nerve? There is also a good deal of repetition, particularly on the structure of nerves, though the references are sensibly gathered together at the end. Despite these criticisms this book will be a necessary addition to the library of any department where much nerve surgery is undertaken. NICHOLAS BARTON. THE HAND Please renew early. The Publishers cannot forward the Journal until the Subscriptions are renewed. Subscriptions should be forwarded to E. & S. Livingstone, Journals Division, 43-45 Annandale Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4AT. Annual Subscription Rate for 1976 s U.S. $27.00 Single copies and back numbers s U.S. $9.00 Three Copies per annum, February, June and October. Remittances should be made payable to L O N G M A N G R O U P LTD. The Hand--Vol. 9
No. 1
1977
95
BOOK REVIEWS
T R A U M A T I C N E R V E LESIONS OF T H E U P P E R LIMB by J. Michon and E. Moberg with chapters by E. E. Almquist, A. Bischoff, G. Bonte, D. Brooks, O. Eeg-Olofsson, G. H. Fallet, K. O. Fetrow, F. Iselin, H. Millesi, G. E. Omer, J. M. Paquin, B. Petyt, J. P. Razemon, J. Roullet, J. W. Smith, E. Spry, R. Tubiana. 22 cm. x 28.5 cm. 110 pages. 75 figures, 8 tables. Bibliography. Index. 1975 Edinburgh, New York, Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 0 443 01057 9. Price s This short book is the second of the monographs of the Groupe d'Etude de la Main to be translated into English. The contributions, based on papers presented at a G.E.M. meeting in Paris in 1969 are by sixteen different authors, mostly European. Some present the results of new research, while others are subject reviews. The first two chapters are on anatomical aspects, and the next five on various methods of assessment and investigation of nerve function, including electromyography and neurography. Two chapters concern re-education of nerve function. One, by Almquist, shows that blind Braille readers have better two-point discrimination than control subjects. Almquist also contributes a study of the results of nerve suture at different ages, suggesting that the better results in children are due to the greater adaptability of their central nervous system, rather than to better regeneration of the peripheral nerve. The remaining six chapters deal with surgical repair of nerve injuries. Several authors emphasise the value of the operating microscope and the importance of fascicular suture rather than simple epineural suture. There is a particularly valuable and well written chapter by J. W. Smith, in which he aptly compares the fasciculi of a nerve to pieces of cooked spaghetti. Those who find it difficult to suture spaghetti will be attracted by the methods of repair described by Smith and Michon. The English translation is rather uneven, and it is a pity that English terminology is not used: is "N. cubital" the ulnar nerve? There is also a good deal of repetition, particularly on the structure of nerves, though the references are sensibly gathered together at the end. Despite these criticisms this book will be a necessary addition to the library of any department where much nerve surgery is undertaken. NICHOLAS BARTON. THE HAND Please renew early. The Publishers cannot forward the Journal until the Subscriptions are renewed. Subscriptions should be forwarded to E. & S. Livingstone, Journals Division, 43-45 Annandale Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4AT. Annual Subscription Rate for 1976 s U.S. $27.00 Single copies and back numbers s U.S. $9.00 Three Copies per annum, February, June and October. Remittances should be made payable to L O N G M A N G R O U P LTD. The Hand--Vol. 9
No. 1
1977
95