Focusing on surgical anatomy and surgical technique, this reference for spinal surgeons, spinal diagnosticians, radiologists, and non-operative therapists presents a compendium of spinal implant instrumentation systems in order to allow the reader compare the indications, benefits, and technical challenges for each system. Edited by Kim (neurosurgery, Stanford U. Medical Center), Vaccaro (orthopedic surgery, Thomas Jefferson U. Hospital), and Fessler (neurosurgery, Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch, U. of Chicago Hospitals) the text contains 166 chapters covering system used in the craniovertebral junction, the anterior cervical spine, the posterior cervical spine, the cervicothoracic junction, the anterior thoracic and thoracolumbar junction, the posterior thoracic and thoracolumbar junction, the anterior lumbar spine, the posterior lumbar spine, and the lumbosacral junction and sacrum. There are also two sections covering allografts/synthetics and artificial disks. The text is illustrated with numerous black and white drawings and photographs. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)