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Peripheral nerve repair and regeneration
BOOK REVIEWS
Book Reviews PERIPHERAL NERVE REPAIR AND REGENERATION This new journal has been published with the aim of exchanging information between clinicians and basic scientists with an interest in peripheral nerve repair and regeneration. The Editor in Chief is Dr. A. Narakas from Lausanne and there is an International Panel of Executive Editors and Associate Editors. Published by Liviana Press, Padover. Volume 1 contains editorials by Dr. Narakas and Sir Sydney Sunderland which define the aims of the Journal and the state of the art. Later volumes commence with historical articles. Thereafter each volume contains five or six original articles. Many of these are invited contributions which review the literature. For example, “Transplantation of Peripheral Nerves and Embryonic Neurons in the Mammalian Central Nervous System: An Introduction to Key Articles in this Field” by Dr. J. C. Horvat provides an insight for the clinician into a specialised research area. “The Technical Factors Influencing the Results of the Epineurial Technique for Peripheral Nerve Repair” by Omer et al., is an example of a more clinically based article. The review articles provide excellent information and a useful bibliography. The Journal is completed by reports from meetings. Finally, there are tables of forthcoming events which are very comprehensive and with such an enormous number of meetings in this area of research there should be many articles made available to the Journal in future. The editors aim to provide a catalyst between clinical and laboratory knowledge is laudable and the Journal is certainly an invaluable reference document for any surgeon wishing to enter this area of knowledge or keep abreast of current developments. The editors have, however, chosen to enter a highly competitive international market place with much competition for library subscriptions and advertising revenues. It is to be hoped that this new Journal will be successful in attracting sufficient subscribers world-wide. D. A. McGrouther THE UPPER LIMB IN TETRAPLEGIA: A New Approach to Surgical Rehabilitation by E. Moberg. Georg Thieme Publisher: Stuttgart Erik Moberg is well known to those who practice surgery of the upper limb and hand, as one of the great pioneers and practitioners of this art of surgery. Since his retirement from his University post, he has devoted his considerable energies to the severe upper limb paralysis common in those who have suffered spinal cord injuries in the cervical region. His experience in the management of this problem in various countries in the world is unique and has been brought together in this monograph. As would be expected he gives due importance impairment of sensation and proprioception.
to the
Cervical cord injury is now the commonest cause of severe bilateral upper limb paralysis in the Western world. Surgical attempts to improve upper limb function and to make the patient more independent has, unfortunately, been largely neglected in this country. Many surgeons are now becoming aware of the benefits that are available in properly chosen, 286
timed and performed surgery utilising the principles clearly enunciated in this book. In this country cord damage at the level of the sixth cervical segment is the most common level leaving patients without active elbow extension and with no hand function. Restoration of active elbow extension by the deltoid-triceps transfer described by Moberg is greatly appreciated by patients despite a prolonged post-operative programme and it is the reviewer’s experience that the patient invariably asks for the second side to be dealt with. The improvements in hand function which can be obtained are also considerable. It is hoped more and more surgeons will become interested in this exacting field of surgery and will find that the advice given in this book is ideal for their purpose. Douglas W. Lamb THE INTERPHALANGEAL JOINTS. Edited by William H. Bowers, Attending Hand Surgeon, Memorial Mission Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital, North Carolina, U.S.A. 274 pages. Price: f50. Publishers: Churchill Livingstone, London. This is the first volume of a series of surgical volumes on the hand and upper limb. It sets a very high standard indeed. If the subsequent volumes come up to this standard then this will be the definitive series for the next decade. It must be stated at the outset that this a specialised volume and indeed to a non-hand surgeon the concept of a 250 page volume devoted entirely to Interphalangeal Joints may seem recherche. However, any surgeon doing even a modest amount of hand surgery will know the significant morbidity and frustration that is involved for both surgeon and patient alike from loss of movement in proximal interphalangeal joints and this book provides an excellent and fully detailed up-to-date survey of world knowledge on the subject. Dr. Bowers, the editor of this volume has contributed two excellent chapters on the basic anatomy and trauma to the capsular structure of the interphalangeal joints, and these are supported by further detailed chapters on mechanics, on various specific aspects of articular fractures, and associated flexor and extensor tendon damage. The general plan of the book is well thought out, involving basic anatomy, the injuries and associated reconstruction, the arthritides affecting the interphalangeal joint, congenital and degenerative conditions, and an excellent final segment on rehabilitation. The chapter on hand therapy by MS Carter is extemely detailed and well illustrated, and explains what can be done in an ideal situation, although on this side of the Atlantic the opportunity for this degree of detail and care in a patient with an injured finger is only very rarely achieved. It is a well produced volume, with no significant misprints or errors, and the majority of the illustrations are of excellent quality; the exceptions were some of the X-rays in the chapter on fractures which looked decidedly second-hand films. This reviewer learned a lot from reading the book, and is confident that it will become and remain a valuable reference book for any unit dealing with injured hand and fingers. J. C. Semple THE JOURNAL OF HAND SURGERY
Book Reviews PERIPHERAL NERVE REPAIR AND REGENERATION This new journal has been published with the aim of exchanging information between clinicians and basic scientists with an interest in peripheral nerve repair and regeneration. The Editor in Chief is Dr. A. Narakas from Lausanne and there is an International Panel of Executive Editors and Associate Editors. Published by Liviana Press, Padover. Volume 1 contains editorials by Dr. Narakas and Sir Sydney Sunderland which define the aims of the Journal and the state of the art. Later volumes commence with historical articles. Thereafter each volume contains five or six original articles. Many of these are invited contributions which review the literature. For example, “Transplantation of Peripheral Nerves and Embryonic Neurons in the Mammalian Central Nervous System: An Introduction to Key Articles in this Field” by Dr. J. C. Horvat provides an insight for the clinician into a specialised research area. “The Technical Factors Influencing the Results of the Epineurial Technique for Peripheral Nerve Repair” by Omer et al., is an example of a more clinically based article. The review articles provide excellent information and a useful bibliography. The Journal is completed by reports from meetings. Finally, there are tables of forthcoming events which are very comprehensive and with such an enormous number of meetings in this area of research there should be many articles made available to the Journal in future. The editors aim to provide a catalyst between clinical and laboratory knowledge is laudable and the Journal is certainly an invaluable reference document for any surgeon wishing to enter this area of knowledge or keep abreast of current developments. The editors have, however, chosen to enter a highly competitive international market place with much competition for library subscriptions and advertising revenues. It is to be hoped that this new Journal will be successful in attracting sufficient subscribers world-wide. D. A. McGrouther THE UPPER LIMB IN TETRAPLEGIA: A New Approach to Surgical Rehabilitation by E. Moberg. Georg Thieme Publisher: Stuttgart Erik Moberg is well known to those who practice surgery of the upper limb and hand, as one of the great pioneers and practitioners of this art of surgery. Since his retirement from his University post, he has devoted his considerable energies to the severe upper limb paralysis common in those who have suffered spinal cord injuries in the cervical region. His experience in the management of this problem in various countries in the world is unique and has been brought together in this monograph. As would be expected he gives due importance impairment of sensation and proprioception.
to the
Cervical cord injury is now the commonest cause of severe bilateral upper limb paralysis in the Western world. Surgical attempts to improve upper limb function and to make the patient more independent has, unfortunately, been largely neglected in this country. Many surgeons are now becoming aware of the benefits that are available in properly chosen, 286
timed and performed surgery utilising the principles clearly enunciated in this book. In this country cord damage at the level of the sixth cervical segment is the most common level leaving patients without active elbow extension and with no hand function. Restoration of active elbow extension by the deltoid-triceps transfer described by Moberg is greatly appreciated by patients despite a prolonged post-operative programme and it is the reviewer’s experience that the patient invariably asks for the second side to be dealt with. The improvements in hand function which can be obtained are also considerable. It is hoped more and more surgeons will become interested in this exacting field of surgery and will find that the advice given in this book is ideal for their purpose. Douglas W. Lamb THE INTERPHALANGEAL JOINTS. Edited by William H. Bowers, Attending Hand Surgeon, Memorial Mission Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital, North Carolina, U.S.A. 274 pages. Price: f50. Publishers: Churchill Livingstone, London. This is the first volume of a series of surgical volumes on the hand and upper limb. It sets a very high standard indeed. If the subsequent volumes come up to this standard then this will be the definitive series for the next decade. It must be stated at the outset that this a specialised volume and indeed to a non-hand surgeon the concept of a 250 page volume devoted entirely to Interphalangeal Joints may seem recherche. However, any surgeon doing even a modest amount of hand surgery will know the significant morbidity and frustration that is involved for both surgeon and patient alike from loss of movement in proximal interphalangeal joints and this book provides an excellent and fully detailed up-to-date survey of world knowledge on the subject. Dr. Bowers, the editor of this volume has contributed two excellent chapters on the basic anatomy and trauma to the capsular structure of the interphalangeal joints, and these are supported by further detailed chapters on mechanics, on various specific aspects of articular fractures, and associated flexor and extensor tendon damage. The general plan of the book is well thought out, involving basic anatomy, the injuries and associated reconstruction, the arthritides affecting the interphalangeal joint, congenital and degenerative conditions, and an excellent final segment on rehabilitation. The chapter on hand therapy by MS Carter is extemely detailed and well illustrated, and explains what can be done in an ideal situation, although on this side of the Atlantic the opportunity for this degree of detail and care in a patient with an injured finger is only very rarely achieved. It is a well produced volume, with no significant misprints or errors, and the majority of the illustrations are of excellent quality; the exceptions were some of the X-rays in the chapter on fractures which looked decidedly second-hand films. This reviewer learned a lot from reading the book, and is confident that it will become and remain a valuable reference book for any unit dealing with injured hand and fingers. J. C. Semple THE JOURNAL OF HAND SURGERY