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.

This book is a combination of ideas and experiences from over 100 dedicated and brilliant neurosurgeons around the world. Their common goal is to provide data for a deeper understanding of the multi-faceted aspects of neurosurgery and, by doing so, to better serve patients across the globe. Scientific curiosity, deep dedication, incredible work ethics, entrepreneurship, and creativity are the common traits among all neurosurgeons, and not the exception. By allowing readers to see the field of neurosurgery from the perspectives of surgeons spanning five continents, this book serves to provide multiple, diverse viewpoints and to build a foundation for future collaborations. The book’s 24 chapters are organized into 3 parts. Part I provides the reader with an overview of the role of neurosurgery in worldwide health care, its evolution over the past decades, the current state and future directions of each neurosurgical subspecialty across the five continents. Over the years, the overarching goal for neurosurgeons has been to develop new, more effective and high-end solutions for complex diseases and to provide access to neurosurgical services for all patients. Part II discusses the differences and similarities of neurosurgery education and training across the globe, providing a snapshot of how new tools, technology, and paradigms reduce inequality and increase access to neurosurgical education. Educational accomplishments and challenges still present for the in different regions of the world are reviewed. Part III focuses on economic aspects influencing neurosurgery globally, including how to make efficient decisions in the face of scarcity, yet demand. The authors provide theories, models, and tools helpful to apply when planning to allocate resources, not just financial, but also human and intellectual. A deeper understanding of economics does not necessarily provide the answer to the problem; rather it provides the tools to find an answer, or, ideally, multiple possible solutions. Neurosurgery and Global Health is the first comprehensive guide to the role of neurosurgery in the global health care sphere, providing an in-depth compendium about the understanding of the neurosurgical role within global health, its efforts in the education of tomorrow’s workforce, and the economic aspects driving the field.

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.

Recent topics of interest in neurosurgery are discussed in selected papers in this volume. The first major topic deals with vascular malformations of the brain, where neuroradiological interventions and microneurosurgical treatment present major advances. The second major topic covers treatment patterns for various supratentorial tumors in Ähildhood. The interdisciplinary aspects of neurosurgical intensive care, particularly electrophysiology and anesthesia, are treated extensively.

A comprehensive introduction and practical framework to bioethics, for all who are involved in the management of neurosurgical patients.

In a specialized field such as neurosurgery, highly specific knowledge is required. Training programs in the EU vary, making it difficult to standardize medical training. This manual forms the basis for a European consensus in neurosurgery. It is written for residents, students and physicians with a special interest in neurosurgery. Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are detailed according to localization (cranial, spinal, peripheral nerves) with special consideration given to congenital defects and pediatric neurosurgical disorders, functional and stereotactic neurosurgery, as well as critical neurosurgical care. Each chapter contains the basics of anatomy and physiology. The book is well-organized and clearly structured according to each entity and its neurosurgical treatment options. A better understanding of specific neurosurgical problems will help practicing neurosurgeons provide better medical care for their patients, and will also provide the neurosurgery resident with a reliable European standard for step-by-step management of neurosurgical problems, which will prove useful when preparing for the board examination.

An International Conference on "Neurosurgical Training and Reserach” was held in Munich from October 6 – 9, 1996, under the auspices of the EANS, and organized by H.-J. Reulen and H.-J. Steiger. Experts from different countries and neurosurgical organizations have collected information on the present status of resident training in neurosurgery and the mechanisms involved with the training. Various aspects, the recruitment process, the criteria used for selection, the contents and structure of a program, the continuous quality control, exposition to the art of research, fellowships and subspeciality training, etc. have been covered. The present book contains this material and thus provides a unique and comprehensive source of information on the complex of modern neurosurgical training. " ... The beauty of this work is that it puts in one place the many varied aspects of a neurosurgical training program that one needs to be aware of ... should be required reading for the faculty of any academic training program as well as for others who may have a misconception of what residency training is ... an excellent book for any program director or active faculty member. It should be required reading for all faculty members before the next round of resident interviews ...” Neurosurgery "... well edited, published to a high standard and will naturally be of interest to those specifically involved in the areas of selection and training ... a useful text for aspirants to surgical training posts ...” British Journal of Neurosurgery