Electromyography and Neuromuscular Disorders: Clinical-Electrophysiologic Correlations, Text with CD-ROM » (2nd Edition)

In this update of the 1998 edition, Preston and Shapiro (Case Western Reserve U., U. Hospitals of Cleveland) provide expanded coverage of nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) of neuromuscular disorders. Just as in the earlier text, they stress that such studies are an extension of the clinical exam. New chapters are offered on various neuropathies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, atypical motor neuron disorders, and basic statistics for electrodiagnostic studies. New sections treat EMG in special clinical settings, and the basics of electricity and electronics. The volume includes case examples, updated/new figures, and a summary of normal adult and pediatric values from nerve conduction studies. The two companion CDs feature common EMG waveforms. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Renee M. Pazdan, MD(Walter Reed Army Medical Center)
Description:This is the second edition of a book on the technical aspects of electrodiagnostic medicine and the clinical aspects of neuromuscular disorders. It provides relatively comprehensive coverage of topics while still being concise and manageable to read. The first edition was published in 1997.
Purpose:The authors' stated purpose is to provide a practical book for those in residency or postgraduate training that covers all of the basic concepts that are needed to competently understand and interpret electrodiagnostic studies. This book fills a niche by providing relatively comprehensive coverage of all topics related to electrodiagnostic medicine while still being accessible, rather than a large, unwieldy text that would be used more as a reference.
Audience:This book is written for those studying neurophysiology, specifically electrodiagnostic medicine and neuromuscular diseases. The authors' credentials are excellent and the material is accurate and factual — their authority on the subject is unquestionable. The target audience is residents and fellows in training, though anyone in this field would benefit from the information and illustrations in this book. It can provide a good review for those already practicing electrodiagnostic medicine, as well as serve as a nice reference tool for general neurologists and physiatrists to help them interpret and comprehend within a clinical construct the EMG/NCS's that are performed on their patients by other providers.
Features:Approximately one-third of the book covers fundamentals of EMG/NCS's,including basics as well as more complex techniques and pitfalls/common errors to avoid. The remainder of the book covers clinical-electrophysiologic correlations. A large section of this portion is devoted to focal neuropathies, which are covered very comprehensively. However, other sections such as those on polyneuropathy and myopathy, are given a more cursory overview. Highlights of the book include a plethora of illustrations and photos. Particularly useful are the photos that demonstrate positioning for common nerve conduction studies and anatomy for electromyography. Another unique feature is the CD-ROM which accompanies, and nicely complements, this book. As the authors point out, much of electrodiagnostic medicine is visual and auditory. Though it certainly does not replace the necessary hands-on experience, the CD is an excellent teaching tool to introduce students to the practical aspects of electromyography.
Assessment:Overall, I found this book and accompanying CD of very high quality and utility. I believe it will serve its intended role very well as an educational tool for residents and fellows studying electrodiagnostic medicine. There are few other books that combine the technical and clinical aspects as well in such a concise manner, and though other CDs are available, the combination of 2 in 1 makes this a bargain! The additions made in this second edition are certainly of benefit, with the added CD as the highlight.