This book represents the first interdisciplinary text on the emerging field of rehabilitative surgery, in which state of the art procedures from multiple surgical specialties are combined. It proposes a completely new framework for understanding, coordinating, and providing treatment for paralyzed or severely neurologically impaired patients and explains the potentially critical impact of surgery in creating a new baseline of functional status, thereby improving the patient's daily life. Every major aspect of reconstructive surgical treatment is considered, including anesthesia, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, general surgery, vascular surgery, and otolaryngology. The most up-to-date and evidence-based surgeries are clearly described and evaluated, with coverage of treatment of pressure sores, placement of feeding tubes, and upper extremity interventions to improve function and hygiene. Cutting-edge protocols are presented for the surgical treatment of severe nerve injuries, spinal cord injuries, and stroke or cerebrovascular accidents, and a first description and evaluation of phrenic nerve repair to assist weaning of paralyzed patients from ventilators is provided. Both surgical and nonsurgical readers will find this book to be an ideal guide and reference.

Andrew I. Elkwood, MD, FACS, practices at The Plastic Surgery Center and Institute for Advanced Reconstruction, Shrewsbury, NJ, and is Associate Clinical Professor in Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia. He is also Chairman Emeritus, Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ; Founder and Medical Director of the Institute of Advanced Reconstruction, Shrewsbury, NJ; Medical Director of the Center for Treatment of Paralysis & Reconstructive Nerve Surgery, Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, NJ; and Director of the Institute for Advanced Hernia Repair, Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ. Dr. Elkwood is double board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is an expert in not only cosmetic surgery but also nerve reconstruction surgery. He has been a member of the Review Committee of The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine and the Journal Committee of the American Spinal Injury Association. He has published numerous articles in leading medical journals and has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, 20/20, The Learning Channel, and The Discovery Channel.