A Ernst M Herzog RO Seidl ISBN: 1588904377

This book gives an excellent interdisciplinary overview of the primary evaluation and diagnostic methods, treatment and management of acute and sub-acute head and neck trauma.

All aspects of possible injuries to the brain and neck are considered, even those that are sometimes easily overlooked in the acute phase of trauma, for example, dental injuries.

The primary focus in this book was on bone and soft tissue injuries. Unfortunately, the information given on the diagnostic and general evaluation of cerebral lesions is rather poor. CT scans are certainly state of the art detecting intracranial haematomas in the acute phase of trauma. However, magnetic resonance tomography has to be performed later to detect small cerebral lesions, which influence the cerebral functions of the patient but which are mostly not seen in CT, such as diffuse axonal injuries. Furthermore, somatosensory evoked potentials and electroencephalography also add important information on cerebral function in mild as well as in severe head trauma.

The book is easy to read. Substantial information is listed within checklists and flow charts; rules and pitfalls are mentioned and marked separately. A number of wonderful drawings as well as pictures documenting case reports highlight further traumatological aspects. For quick referral, a colour-coded system is used throughout the book and cross-references within the book are also marked clearly.

In summary, this book certainly bears good information for everyone dealing with patients who are suffering from head and neck trauma; a more extensive neurological assessment would certainly be advantageous for a truly interdisciplinary approach.