Contemporary Issues in Peripheral Neuropathy

There are many books on polyneuropathy available that are comprehensive in nature. Many of these are encyclopedic in their scope. However, there are very few books that review the basics of clinical neurophysiological testing, genetics and the commonly encountered neuropathies. There are even fewer that are willing to address less commonly encountered neuropathies such as amyloidosis and neuropathies associated with HIV infection. Many such textbooks also avoid interdisciplinary topics such as the management of pelvic floor dysfunction and the surgical treatment of compression and traumatic neuropathies. This book addresses this void by dividing this book into three distinct sections. The first three chapter section addresses basic clinical neurophysiological techniques, genetic testing and the inherited neuropathies. The larger middle section addresses acquired demyelinating neuropathies, monoclonal gammopathies, HIV neuropathy and familial amyloidosis. The final section concludes with a summary of neuropathies affecting pelvic function and a plastic surgeon''s approach to the treatment of compression and traumatic neuropathies. The authors who wrote these chapters have extensive expertise in these topics such that the literature review was comprehensive. The final chapter on the surgical treatment of compression neuropathies may be viewed as controversial by some and even heretical by others but it provides a unique perspective on the management of patients who are symptomatic and yet have relatively unremarkable clinical and electrodiagnostic investigations. The reader will find up to date information on a variety of topics; common and uncommon. This book attempts to educate as well as challenge the reader.