Image-Guided Spine Intervention

Abstract

Image-Guided Spine Intervention D.S. Fenton and L.F. Dzervionke, editors Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 2002. ISBN 0-8216-0021-2. 298 pp, $149.00. Edited by two interventional radiologists at the Mayo Clinic, Florida, this book is composed of 11 chapters and includes eight contributing authors. The stated goal of the book is to describe the techniques necessary to perform accurate, safe, and clinically relevant diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for spine-related pain. The first chapter describes basic needle manipulation technique, and subsequent chapters discuss facet joint injection, medial branch block, facet denervation, selective nerve root block, epidural injections, sacroiliac joint injections, vertebroplasty, discography, intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET™) and pharmacology of agents used. Each chapter is written in a consistent style, covering relevant anatomy, discussions of patient selection, step-by-step instructions, equipment, complications, case studies, sample dictations, and current procedural terminology (CPT) codes. There are more than 625 high-quality illustrations, many in color. Images include anatomic sections, radiographic images, computed tomographic (CT) images, and magnetic resonance (MR) images. Each chapter also contains the comments of a spine surgeon on how the procedure under discussion relates to his practice. Contributions from the fields of anesthesiology, radiology and neurosurgery reflect a multidisciplinary approach to pain management and provide a highly valuable and interesting perspective. This book is well written, superbly illustrated, and well referenced. It is an excellent resource for residents and fellows in training as well as for practicing interventional pain physicians.