Neurosurgery Fundamentals

The quintessential guide providing a one-stop roadmap to a neurosurgical career!

Neurological surgery is a complex, highly selective specialty. For medical students and residents, navigating a huge
array of neurosurgical information can be overwhelming. Neurosurgery Fundamentals by Nitin Agarwal is a portable
reference enabling swift assimilation of neurosurgical care essentials. The book starts with a roadmap to a career in
neurosurgery. It concludes with Advice from the Masters, featuring invaluable resources and insights from prominent
neurosurgeons.

Comprehensive technical overviews are provided on the neurological exam, neuroanatomy, neuroradiology,
neurocritical care, traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, degenerative and deformity spine, neurovascular surgery,
neurosurgical oncology, pediatric neurosurgery, functional neurosurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, neurological
infectious diseases, and interdisciplinary care. Socioeconomic topics include training, licensure, credentialing, and
advocacy.

Key Features

　•　Fundamental diseases, tests, and operative approaches are summarized.
　•　Top Hits feature the most salient questions, aiding in retention of knowledge.
　•　High-yield resources are highlighted to augment reader identification.
　•　Neurosurgical Pearls offer advice from the masters relevant to each chapter.
　•　High-quality illustrations, photographs, and radiographs enrich understanding.

Aspiring neurosurgical providers will benefit from the easy-to-digest wealth of information in this concise, yet
comprehensive guide.

This book includes complimentary access to a digital copy on https://medone.thieme.com.




1 Roadmap to a Career in Neurosurgery
　1.1 Introduction
　1.2 Applications
　1.3 Profiles

2 History of Neurological Surgery
　2.1 Introduction
　2.2 The Pri-Cushing Era
　2.3 The Cushing Era
　2.4 Spinal Neurosurgery
　2.5 Instrumentation

3 Neurological Examination
　3.1 Introduction
　3.2 Mental Status
　3.3 Cranial Nerves
　3.4 Motor Examination
　3.5 Reflex Examination
　3.6 Sensory Examination
　3.7 Gait and Coordination
　3.8 Special Tests
　3.9 Top Hits

4 Neuroanatomy
　4.1 Introduction
　4.2 Bones of the Skull
　4.3 Cerebrum
　4.4 Brainstem
　4.5 Cisterns
　4.6 Spinal Cord
　4.7 Vertebral Column
　4.8 Vascular Anatomy
　4.9 Top Hits

5 Neuroradiology for the Neurosurgeon
　5.1 Introduction
　5.2 Computed Tomography
　5.3 Magnetic Resonance
　5.4 Clinical Scenarios
　5.5 Top Hits

6 Operating Room
　6.1 Introduction
　6.2 Operating Room
　6.3 Cranial Postioning
　6.4 Spinal Positioning
　6.5 Positioning-Related Complications
　6.6 Cerebral Relaxation
　6.7 Bedside Procedures
　6.8 Cranial Approaches
　6.9 Spinal Approaches
　6.10 Pediatric
　6.11 Functional
　6.12 Top Hits

7 Neurocritical Care
　7.1 Introduction
　7.2 Respiratory Physiology
　7.3 Shock
　7.4 Fluid and Electrolytes
　7.5 Cerebral Metabolism and Perfusion
　7.6 Hematology and Coagulation
　7.7 Top Hits

8 Traumatic Brain Injury
　8.1 Introduction
　8.2 Classification of Head Injury
　8.3 Monitoring
　8.4 ICP Treatment
　8.5 Anticoagulation
　8.6 Penetrating Trauma
　8.7 Top Hits

9 Spinal Trauma
　9.1 Introduction
　9.2 Examination
　9.3 Imaging
　9.4 Shock
　9.5 Steroids
　9.6 Immobilization
　9.7 Spinal Cord Syndromes
　9.8 Spinal Column Model
　9.9 Cervical Spine
　9.10 Cervical Injuries
　9.11 C₁ Fractures
　9.12 Additional Principles for Cervical Trauma
　9.13 Thoracic Injuries
　9.14 Thoracolumbar and Lumbar Spine Injuries
　9.15 Sacral Fractures
　9.16 Top Hits

10 Spine
　10.1 Introduction
　10.2 Cervical Spine Degenerative Disease
　10.3 Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
　10.4 Thoracic Spine Degenerative Disease
　10.5 Lubar Back Pain
　10.6 Spinal Neoplasms
　10.7 Spinal Vascular Disorders
　10.8 Spinal Deformity
　10.9 Inflammatory Spondyloarthropathies
　10.10 Spinal Infections
　10.11 Cauda Equina Syndrome
　10.12 Othe Spinal Syndromes
　10.13 Top His

11 Pain
　11.1 Pathway Anatomy
　11.2 Major Types of Pain
　11.3 Craniofacial Pain Syndromes
　11.4 Procedures for Pain
　11.5 Top Hits

12 Cerebrovascular
　12.1 Stroke
　12.2 Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
　12.3 Aneurysms
　12.4 Vascular Malformations
　12.5 Top Hits

13 Neurosurgical Oncology
　13.1 Lymphomas and Hematopoietic Tumors
　13.2 Mesenchymal Tumors
　13.3 Neuroepithelial Brain Tumors
　13.4 Ependymoma and Subependymoma
　13.5 Pineal Region Tumors
　13.6 Embryonal/PNETs
　13.7 Tumors of Cranial and Paraspinal Nerves
　13.8 Sellar Tumors
　13.9 Cysts and Tumor-Like Lesions
　13.10 Top Hits

14 Pediatric Neurosurgery
　14.1 Examination
　14.2 Developmental Anomalies
　14.3 Pediatric Tumors
　14.4 Pediatric Trauma
　14.5 Top Hits

15 Movement Disorders and Epilepsy
　15.1 Movement Disorders
　15.2 Epilepsy
　15.3 Top Hits

16 Stereotactic Radiosurgery
　16.1 Introduction
　16.2 Radiation Background
　16.3 Types of Radiation
　16.4 Main SRS Modalities
　16.5 Dosing
　16.6 Occupational Exposure
　16.7 Adverse Reactions
　16.8 Indications
　16.9 Treatment Procedure
　16.10 Clinical Outcomes
　16.11 Radiation-Induced Changes
　16.12 Vaculopathy
　16.13 Cranial Nerve Deficits
　16.14 Radiation-Induced Tumors
　16.15 Future Directions
　16.16 Top Hits

17 Neurological Infectious Diseases
　17.1 Introduction
　17.2 Microbiological Diagnosis
　17.3 Flavivirus-Mediated Neurological Disease
　17.4 Meningococcal Disease
　17.5 Neurocysticercosis
　17.6 Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis
　17.7 Postsurgical Infections
　17.8 Additional Neurological Infections
　17.9 Empiric Treatment
　17.10 Big Data
　17.11 Top His

18 Interdisciplinary Care
　18.1 Neurology
　18.2 Neuroanesthesia
　18.3 Neuro-Ophthalmology
　18.4 Neurotology
　18.5 Top Hits

19 Socioeconomics in Neurosurgery
　19.1 Training
　19.2 Patient Care
　19.3 Medical Economics
　19.4 Personal Finance
　19.5 Job Satisfaction

20 Advice from the Masters
　20.1 Introduction
　20.2 Additional Reading
　20.3 Conferences
　20.4 Grants and Awards
　20.5 Journals
　20.6 Leadership
　20.7 Board Review
　20.8 The Masters