This volume is the second in a new series of pro The task carried out through the collaboration of ceedings covering the official scientific meetings of the neurosurgeons and specialists in neurorehabilitation Neurorehabilitation Committee of the World Federa cannot be viewed simply as a restoration of function or tion of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS). The first reconstruction of structure. Recent advances in neu scientific meeting of the WFNS Neurorehabilitation roimaging techniques have begun to demonstrate that Committee was held successfully in Munster, Ger it involves extensive functional and structural reorga many, in 2000 under the auspices of Professor Klaus nization of neural networks within the brain and R. H. von Wild. The proceedings of that meeting probably the spinal cord. On this basis, we felt that it (Functional Rehabilitation in Neurosurgery and Neu might be more appropriate to refer to such activities as rotraumatology) were published as a supplement to re-engineering of the damaged brain and spinal cord. Acta Neurochirurgica (volume 79, 2001). This first In order to encapsulate such a concept, the second scientific meeting highlighted the important role scientific meeting was entitled the Second Interna played by neurosurgeons in neurorehabilitation be tional Symposium on Neurosurgical Re-engineering of at an early period after brain or spinal cord the Damaged Brain and Spinal Cord (NRDBS'02). ginning damage.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can lead to loss of skills and to mental cognitive behavioural deficits. Paraplegia after Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) means a life-long sentence of paralysis, sensory loss, dependence and in both, TBI and SCI, waiting for a miracle therapy. Recent advances in functional neurosurgery, neuroprosthesis, robotic devices and cell transplantation have opened up a new era. New drugs and reconstructive surgical concepts are on the horizon. Social reintegration is based on holistic rehabilitation. Psychological treatment can alleviate and strengthen affected life. This book reflects important aspects of physiology and new trans-disciplinary approaches for acute treatment and rehabilitation in neurotraumatology by reviewing evidence based concepts as they were discussed among bio and gene-technologists, physicians, neuropsychologists and other therapists at the joint international congress in Brescia 2004.

Top level clinical and laboratory scientists present their most recent clinical and experimental findings and concepts. The well balanced contributions illustrate the enormous significance of the dialogue between both laboratory and clinic, ultimately for the benefit of the patients, and contribute to a better understanding of secondary brain damage from trauma and ischemia as basis to develop more effective treatment including drugs.

Agreed standards and guidelines are the heart and soul of improving the differing training systems and to harmonize neurosurgical training in the European countries. Such standards and guidelines have been laid down in the European Training Charter of the European Union of Medical Specialists and recently novellated. This book, written by experienced neurosurgeons, offers all those concerned with neurosurgical training - trainers and trainees - practical advice to implement the above mentioned standards and recommendations. It has been written as a manual: "How to do it”. It describes the tasks of a chairman (programme director), the tasks of the teaching staff, the organisation of a training curriculum, a rotation plan or a morbidity and mortality conference, the periodic progress evaluation, the course of an external audit and many more important topics. It contains a lot of practical tips, check lists and useful examples. Well educated young colleagues offer "safe neurosurgery” to our patients.

In addition to surgery and radiotherapy, local treatment modalities for the management of brain tumours are increasingly being developed and clinically tested. This book describes for the first time basic tumour biology as well as all current procedures in progress at the most recent level of knowledge, presented by leading experts in the respective fields. Image guided resection procedures, fluorescence guided surgery, developments in interstitial radiosurgery are addressed, just as intracavitary chemotherapy and all current concepts and studies of interstitial targeted therapy. Owing to its topicality this book will remain for long the standard for this comprehensively treated subject.

These proceeding cover new trends presented at the IV Congress of the International Society of Reconstructive Neurosurgery (ISRN), 2015. ISRN is an “open” multidisciplinary society that deals with advances in spine and peripheral-nerve reconstructive surgery, central nervous system revascularization (surgical, radio interventional), neuromodulation, bioengineering and transplantation, which are the latest tools used to promote reconstruction, restoration and rehabilitation.