📚 Top 100 Neurosurgery Resources

Curated textbooks, atlases, platforms, journals, and tools for surgical case preparation. Each entry links to the official source (for online platforms/journals) or to a find‑the‑PDF search + a WorldCat library lookup (for books) — use your institution’s library / Clinical Key / OvidSP / publisher access to download full text behind a paywall.

📥 Accessing paywalled books/articles: sign in through your hospital or university library proxy (e.g., library.youruniversity.edu → databases → ClinicalKey / AccessSurgery / Ovid), or request via interlibrary loan. The 🔎 link finds an open PDF when one exists.

📕 Textbooks (20)

• Cranial Anatomy and Surgical Approaches · Albert L. Rhoton Jr. — The definitive atlas of cranial microsurgical anatomy. Essential for understanding every cranial approach, vascular relationships, and cranial nerve anatomy from the surgical perspective. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Gold standard for surgical anatomy. Every approach chapter should reference Rhoton.
• Microneurosurgery (Volumes I-IV) · M. Gazi Yasargil — Foundational 4-volume work on microsurgical technique. Vol I: Microsurgical Anatomy. Vol II: Clinical Considerations/Surgery of Intracranial Aneurysms and Results. Vol IIIA: AVM of the Brain. Vol IVB: Microneurosurgery of CNS Tumors. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Yasargil pioneered modern microsurgery. His technique descriptions remain the benchmark.
• Handbook of Neurosurgery · Mark S. Greenberg — Comprehensive single-volume reference covering all of neurosurgery. Quick reference for clinical decision-making, grading scales, dosing, and management algorithms. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: The ‘bible’ of neurosurgery for quick reference and board prep.
• Youmans & Winn Neurological Surgery · H. Richard Winn (ed.) — Multi-volume comprehensive neurosurgery reference. Covers basic science, clinical evaluation, and all operative subspecialties in depth. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Most comprehensive multi-author reference in the field.
• Schmidek & Sweet: Operative Neurosurgical Techniques · Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa (ed.) — Definitive operative techniques reference with step-by-step surgical descriptions, indications, and outcomes for virtually every neurosurgical procedure. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Go-to for step-by-step operative technique with detailed illustrations.
• Operative Neurosurgery (2 Volumes) ↗ · John E. Kempe — Classic operative atlas with detailed surgical illustrations of cranial and spinal procedures.
  Why essential: Beautifully illustrated classic operative reference.
• Atlas of Neurosurgical Techniques (2 Volumes) · Laligam N. Sekhar, Richard G. Fessler — Vol 1: Brain. Vol 2: Spine and Peripheral Nerves. Comprehensive atlas with modern techniques and step-by-step approaches. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Modern comprehensive atlas covering brain, spine, and peripheral nerve surgery.
• Seven Aneurysms: Tenets and Techniques for Clipping · Michael T. Lawton — Expert guide to aneurysm clipping organized by aneurysm morphology and location. Includes decision-making frameworks and clip selection strategies. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: The modern definitive text on open aneurysm surgery from the master.
• Seven AVMs: Tenets and Techniques for Resection · Michael T. Lawton — Companion to Seven Aneurysms focused on AVM resection. Organized by AVM location and angioarchitecture. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Definitive modern guide to AVM surgery.
• Meningiomas · Ossama Al-Mefty — Comprehensive reference on meningioma surgery including skull base meningiomas, with detailed approach-specific chapters. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: The authoritative text on meningioma management and surgical technique.
• Neurovascular Surgery · Robert F. Spetzler, M. Yashar S. Kalani, Peter Nakaji — Comprehensive cerebrovascular surgery text covering aneurysms, AVMs, cavernous malformations, moyamoya, and bypass surgery. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Barrow Neurological Institute’s cerebrovascular expertise in one volume.
• Surgery of the Third Ventricle · Michael L.J. Apuzzo — Detailed text on surgical approaches to the third ventricle including transcallosal, transcortical, and endoscopic approaches. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Essential for deep midline lesion surgery.
• Fundamentals of Operative Techniques in Neurosurgery · E. Sander Connolly Jr., Guy M. McKhann II, et al. — Practical operative guide with emphasis on technique fundamentals, patient positioning, and step-by-step procedures. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Excellent for junior residents learning operative fundamentals.
• Surgery of the Cerebellopontine Angle · Nicholas C. Bambakidis, Cliff A. Megerian, Robert F. Spetzler — Focused text on CPA surgery including retrosigmoid, translabyrinthine, and middle fossa approaches. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Comprehensive guide to one of the most demanding anatomical regions.
• Principles of Neurosurgery · Setti S. Rengachary, Richard G. Ellenbogen — Well-organized principles-based neurosurgery text covering fundamental concepts and clinical practice. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Strong foundational text for understanding principles behind techniques.
• Spine Surgery: Techniques, Complication Avoidance, and Management · Edward C. Benzel — Comprehensive spine surgery reference emphasizing biomechanics, technique, and avoiding complications. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: The go-to spine reference with excellent biomechanics foundation.
• Spine Surgery: Operative Techniques · Alexander R. Vaccaro (ed.) — Step-by-step spine operative techniques with modern approaches including minimally invasive techniques. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Comprehensive modern spine operative atlas.
• Keyhole Approaches in Neurosurgery · Axel Perneczky, Robert Reisch — Detailed guide to minimally invasive keyhole craniotomy approaches including supraorbital, retrosigmoid, and supracerebellar. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Pioneer text on minimally invasive cranial approaches.
• Surgical Anatomy of the Brain · Guilherme Carvalhal Ribas — Surgical anatomy text integrating sulcal-gyral anatomy with surgical approaches and cortical mapping. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Bridges surface anatomy with functional localization for surgical planning.
• Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery · Amin B. Kassam, Paolo Cappabianca, et al. — Comprehensive guide to endoscopic skull base surgery including extended approaches to anterior, middle, and posterior skull base. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Essential for the expanding role of endoscopic skull base surgery.

🧠 Anatomy Atlases (10)

• Atlas of Human Anatomy · Frank H. Netter — Classic illustrated anatomy atlas with detailed neuroanatomy sections covering brain, spine, cranial nerves, and vasculature. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Gold standard general anatomy reference for quick visual review.
• Rhoton Photographic Collection · Albert L. Rhoton Jr. / AANS — Comprehensive photographic collection of microsurgical anatomy dissections covering every region of the brain, skull base, and posterior fossa. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Unparalleled photographic documentation of surgical anatomy from the master anatomist.
• Neuroanatomy: An Atlas of Structures, Sections, and Systems · Duane E. Haines — Detailed neuroanatomy atlas with cross-sectional anatomy, vascular territories, and clinical correlations. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Best atlas for understanding cross-sectional and tract anatomy.
• The Human Brain: Surface, Three-Dimensional Sectional Anatomy with MRI, and Blood Supply · Henri M. Duvernoy — Detailed 3D brain anatomy with MRI correlation and comprehensive vascular supply mapping. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Critical for correlating surgical anatomy with imaging.
• The Human Brain Stem and Cerebellum · Henri M. Duvernoy — Companion atlas focused on posterior fossa anatomy including detailed brainstem nuclear anatomy and cerebellar anatomy. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Essential for posterior fossa surgery planning.
• Neuroanatomy through Clinical Cases · Hal Blumenfeld — Case-based neuroanatomy integrating structure with function and clinical presentation. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Best resource for understanding functional significance of surgical anatomy.
• Clinical Neuroanatomy · Stephen G. Waxman — Concise clinical neuroanatomy text with emphasis on clinically relevant anatomy and localization. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Quick, clinically-oriented neuroanatomy review.
• Comprehensive Neurosurgery Board Review · Jonathan Stuart Citow, Robert L. Macdonald, Remi Bhardwaj Refai — Board review resource covering anatomy, pathology, and surgical concepts in question format. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Structured review for confirming anatomical knowledge.
• Microsurgical Anatomy of the Brain (Rhoton’s Cranial Anatomy & Surgical Approaches — Atlas) · Albert L. Rhoton Jr. — Focused atlas of microsurgical brain anatomy from the surgeon’s operating perspective. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Surgical perspective anatomy that directly translates to the operating room.
• Tubbs’ Surgical Anatomy of Nerves · R. Shane Tubbs, E. Rizk, et al. — Detailed surgical anatomy of peripheral and cranial nerves with clinical correlations. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Essential reference for nerve-related surgery and avoiding nerve injury.

💻 Online Platforms & Apps (10)

• Neurosurgical Atlas (neurosurgicalatlas.com) ↗ · Aaron Cohen-Gadol — Free comprehensive online neurosurgical atlas with operative videos, 3D anatomy, approach descriptions, and surgical pearls for virtually every neurosurgical procedure.
  Why essential: The single best free online resource. Operative videos and 3D models for every major approach.
• The Rhoton Collection · AANS / Rhoton Lab — Digital archive of Rhoton’s microsurgical anatomy dissections, photographs, and teaching materials. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Digital access to Rhoton’s unparalleled anatomy collection.
• Radiopaedia.org ↗ · Radiopaedia Team — Free radiology reference with extensive neuroimaging cases, anatomy illustrations, and pathology descriptions.
  Why essential: Best free resource for imaging anatomy and pathology correlation.
• 3D4Medical / Complete Anatomy · Elsevier — Interactive 3D anatomy application with dissectable layers, clinical correlations, and neurosurgery-specific content. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Best interactive 3D anatomy tool for understanding spatial relationships.
• AANS Neurosurgeon ↗ · American Association of Neurological Surgeons — AANS educational content including case studies, technique articles, and practice guidelines.
  Why essential: Authoritative professional society educational resources.
• Congress of Neurological Surgeons Education Portal ↗ · CNS — CNS educational modules, webinars, operative video library, and guidelines.
  Why essential: High-quality structured educational content from CNS.
• Neurosurgical Atlas YouTube Channel ↗ · Aaron Cohen-Gadol — Extensive library of narrated operative neurosurgery videos covering approaches, techniques, and anatomy.
  Why essential: Free high-quality operative videos with expert narration.
• Stanford Neurosurgery YouTube ↗ · Stanford Neurosurgery — Academic neurosurgery video content including grand rounds, operative cases, and educational lectures.
  Why essential: Academic-quality educational content from a top program.
• Surgical Neurology International (SNI) ↗ · SNI Editorial Board — Open-access neurosurgery journal with technique articles, case reports, and reviews.
  Why essential: Free open-access journal with practical technique articles.
• WFNS Educational Resources · World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies — International neurosurgery educational materials, consensus guidelines, and training resources. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Global perspective on neurosurgical standards and practice.

🧭 Approach References (20)

• Pterional (Frontotemporal) Craniotomy · Multiple (Yasargil, Rhoton, Cohen-Gadol) — The workhorse cranial approach. Access to anterior and middle cranial fossa, circle of Willis, sellar/parasellar region, and lateral skull base. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Most commonly used cranial approach — must master completely.
• Retrosigmoid (Retromastoid) Craniotomy · Multiple (Samii, Rhoton, Sekhar) — Posterior fossa approach for CPA lesions, petroclival tumors, and microvascular decompression. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Primary approach for CPA pathology and MVD.
• Suboccipital Midline Craniotomy · Multiple — Posterior fossa midline approach for cerebellar and fourth ventricle pathology. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Essential approach for midline posterior fossa pathology.
• Supracerebellar Infratentorial Approach · Multiple (Yasargil, Sekhar, Rhoton) — Approach to pineal region, posterior third ventricle, and superior cerebellar surface via the natural corridor above the cerebellum. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Key approach for pineal region and allows gravity retraction of cerebellum.
• Interhemispheric Approach · Multiple (Yasargil, Rhoton, Lawton) — Midline approach through the interhemispheric fissure for parasagittal, falcine, and corpus callosum lesions. Anterior, middle, or posterior variants. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Essential for midline deep lesions and transcallosal corridor.
• Bifrontal Craniotomy · Multiple — Bilateral frontal approach for large anterior skull base lesions, bilateral frontal pathology, and anterior communicating complex. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Provides wide anterior skull base exposure for large tumors.
• Orbitozygomatic Craniotomy · Multiple (Sekhar, Al-Mefty, Zabramski) — Extension of pterional approach with removal of orbital rim and/or zygomatic arch for enhanced anterior and middle skull base exposure. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Increases surgical freedom for deep skull base lesions.
• Transpetrosal Approach (Anterior and Posterior) · Multiple (Kawase, Al-Mefty, Sekhar) — Approaches through the petrous bone. Anterior (Kawase) drills the petrous apex; posterior involves presigmoid/retrolabyrinthine corridor. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Critical for petroclival region pathology requiring wide exposure.
• Far Lateral (Extreme Lateral) Approach · Multiple (Heros, Spetzler, Bertalanffy) — Posterolateral approach to the ventral foramen magnum region, lower clivus, and anterior brainstem with or without C1 arch removal. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Only adequate approach for ventral foramen magnum pathology.
• Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Approach · Multiple (Kassam, Carrau, Cappabianca, Laws) — Endoscopic approach through nasal corridor to sella, suprasellar, and extended to anterior skull base, clivus, and petrous apex. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Rapidly expanding approach for ventral skull base pathology.
• Temporal/Subtemporal Approach · Multiple (Drake, Yasargil, Rhoton) — Approach via temporal craniotomy with elevation of temporal lobe for access to middle fossa floor, tentorial incisura, and interpeduncular cistern. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Direct approach to tentorial incisura and middle fossa floor.
• Telovelar Approach · Multiple (Matsushima, Rhoton) — Microsurgical approach through the cerebellomedullary fissure to access the fourth ventricle without splitting the vermis. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Avoids vermian splitting for fourth ventricle access.
• Supraorbital Keyhole Craniotomy · Multiple (Perneczky, Reisch, Cohen-Gadol) — Minimally invasive approach via eyebrow incision and small supraorbital craniotomy for anterior skull base and anterior circulation pathology. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Growing role in minimally invasive cranial surgery.
• Translabyrinthine Approach · Multiple (House, Brackmann) — Lateral skull base approach through the labyrinth for CPA lesions when hearing is not serviceable. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Provides excellent facial nerve identification for large VS.
• Middle Fossa Approach · Multiple (House, Garcia-Ibanez) — Extradural middle fossa approach for IAC and petrous apex with hearing preservation potential. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Best approach for hearing preservation in small intracanalicular tumors.
• Contralateral Interhemispheric Transfalcine Transprecuneus Approach · Multiple (Lawton, Cohen-Gadol) — Advanced approach through the contralateral interhemispheric fissure, across the falx, for medial parietal/occipital and atrial lesions. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Elegant gravity-assisted approach for deep medial lesions.
• Transnasal Transsphenoidal Approach (Microscopic) · Multiple (Hardy, Laws, Ciric) — Classic microscopic transsphenoidal approach to the sella via sublabial or endonasal route. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Classic pituitary approach — foundation for endoscopic techniques.
• Transcallosal Approach · Multiple (Apuzzo, Yasargil, Rhoton) — Interhemispheric approach with callosotomy for access to the third ventricle, lateral ventricles, and deep midline structures. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Primary open approach for third ventricle pathology.
• Parasagittal/Parafalcine Craniotomy · Multiple — Craniotomy crossing or adjacent to the superior sagittal sinus for parasagittal and falcine lesions. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Critical approach with major venous considerations.
• Convexity Craniotomy · Multiple — Direct craniotomy over a convexity lesion. Size and shape tailored to the lesion with navigation. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Most straightforward craniotomy — fundamentals of technique apply to all.

📐 Operative Planning (15)

• Skull Clamp Placement Principles · Multiple (Connolly, Mayfield manual) — Principles of three-point skull fixation including pin placement zones, avoidance zones (thin bone, sinuses, sutures in pediatrics), and troubleshooting. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Every cranial case starts here. Bad clamp placement compromises the entire operation.
• Patient Positioning in Neurosurgery · Multiple (Connolly, Gelb, Spetzler) — Comprehensive guide to neurosurgical positioning: supine, prone, lateral, park bench, sitting, Concorde. Includes physiologic considerations, pressure point padding, and venous drainage optimization. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Position determines approach success. Must understand physiology and complications.
• Scalp Incision Planning · Multiple (Yasargil, Rhoton, Cohen-Gadol) — Principles of scalp incision design including blood supply considerations, cosmesis, muscle handling, and incision types (linear, curvilinear, question-mark, bicoronal, horseshoe). (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Incision determines exposure and affects healing and cosmesis.
• Burr Hole Placement and Craniotomy Technique · Multiple — Principles of burr hole placement relative to key landmarks, dural tacking, craniotomy flap elevation, and bone flap management. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Technical foundation for every craniotomy.
• Dural Opening and Closure Techniques · Multiple — Techniques for dural opening (curvilinear, stellate, C-shaped), pedicled vs free dural flaps, and watertight closure methods. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Watertight closure prevents CSF leak — a major source of morbidity.
• Intraoperative Hemostasis Techniques · Multiple — Methods for achieving hemostasis including bipolar technique, hemostatic agents (Surgicel, Gelfoam, fibrin glue), bone wax, and venous sinus repair. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Hemostasis is the foundation of safe microsurgery.
• Microsurgical Dissection Principles · Yasargil, Rhoton — Core principles of microsurgical technique: arachnoid dissection, cisternal opening, vessel handling, tumor capsule dissection, and brain parenchyma management. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: The art of neurosurgery lives in microsurgical technique.
• Intraoperative Neuromonitoring · Multiple (Nuwer, Deletis) — Principles and application of SSEPs, MEPs, EMG, BAER, and direct cortical/subcortical stimulation during neurosurgical procedures. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Monitoring guides safe resection and protects eloquent structures.
• Frameless Stereotactic Navigation · Multiple (Medtronic StealthStation, Brainlab) — Principles and use of image-guided navigation systems for surgical planning, trajectory planning, and intraoperative localization. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Standard of care for most cranial procedures.
• Intraoperative Ultrasound in Neurosurgery · Multiple (Unsgaard, Selbekk) — Use of intraoperative ultrasound for real-time lesion localization, resection control, and assessment of residual disease. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Real-time imaging that doesn’t suffer from brain shift.
• Fluorescence-Guided Surgery (5-ALA, ICG, Fluorescein) · Multiple (Stummer, Raabe) — Use of fluorescent agents for tumor visualization (5-ALA for gliomas), vascular assessment (ICG), and blood-brain barrier disruption (fluorescein). (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Improves extent of resection and vascular assessment.
• Awake Craniotomy Techniques · Multiple (Berger, Duffau, Sanai) — Techniques for awake craniotomy including patient selection, anesthetic management, cortical/subcortical mapping, and language/motor testing. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Essential for safe resection near eloquent cortex.
• Brain Retraction Alternatives · Multiple (Cohen-Gadol, Yasargil) — Modern approaches to minimize brain retraction: dynamic retraction, gravity-assisted positioning, CSF drainage, cisternal opening, and retractorless surgery. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Retraction injury is avoidable with proper technique and positioning.
• Intraoperative MRI · Multiple (Black, Hall, Nimsky) — Use of intraoperative MRI for real-time assessment of extent of resection, brain shift correction, and residual disease detection. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Maximizes extent of resection particularly for gliomas.
• EVD Placement Technique · Multiple (Greenberg, Connolly) — Step-by-step technique for external ventricular drain placement including Kocher’s point, trajectory planning, and troubleshooting. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Core neurosurgical procedure performed frequently in emergencies.

🔬 Subspecialty References (20)

• Aneurysm Surgery: Clipping Principles · Lawton, Spetzler, Yasargil — Principles of aneurysm clipping including proximal control, clip selection (straight, curved, fenestrated, stacked), temporary clipping, and aneurysm-specific strategies. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Core cerebrovascular skill with specific technical principles.
• AVM Grading and Surgical Planning · Spetzler, Martin, Lawton — Spetzler-Martin grading, supplementary grading, and surgical principles for AVM resection including circumferential dissection and deep feeder management. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Systematic approach to AVM surgery based on grading.
• EC-IC Bypass Techniques · Lawton, Sekhar, Spetzler — Extracranial-intracranial bypass techniques: STA-MCA direct bypass, radial artery/saphenous vein interposition graft, and high-flow bypass. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Critical skill for complex cerebrovascular surgery.
• Glioma Surgery Principles · Berger, Sanai, Duffau — Principles of glioma resection including maximal safe resection, functional boundaries, sulcal-gyral anatomy, white matter tract anatomy, and extent of resection impact on survival. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Defines modern neuro-oncologic surgical practice.
• Meningioma Classification and Surgical Strategies · Al-Mefty, Sekhar, DeMonte — WHO classification, Simpson grading, and location-specific surgical strategies for meningiomas (convexity, parasagittal, skull base, posterior fossa). (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumor requiring surgery.
• Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery · Samii, Sekhar, Bambakidis — Approach selection (retrosigmoid vs translabyrinthine vs middle fossa), facial nerve preservation strategies, and hearing preservation considerations. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: High-stakes surgery where approach selection dramatically affects outcomes.
• Anterior Skull Base Tumor Surgery · DeMonte, Al-Mefty, Hanna — Surgical management of anterior skull base tumors including olfactory groove meningiomas, esthesioneuroblastomas, and anterior cranial base reconstruction. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Complex skull base surgery requiring multidisciplinary approach.
• Posterior Fossa Tumor Surgery · Multiple (Samii, Sekhar, Cohen-Gadol) — Surgical management of posterior fossa tumors including medulloblastoma, hemangioblastoma, ependymoma, and metastases. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Posterior fossa demands specialized approach and technique knowledge.
• Deep Brain Stimulation Technique · Multiple (Lozano, Starr, Gross) — DBS lead implantation technique including target selection (STN, GPi, VIM), stereotactic planning, microelectrode recording, and programming. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Growing functional neurosurgery subspecialty with expanding indications.
• Epilepsy Surgery · Multiple (Spencer, Engel, Duckworth) — Epilepsy surgery techniques including anterior temporal lobectomy, selective amygdalohippocampectomy, SEEG electrode placement, and laser ablation. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Specialized surgery requiring integration of electrophysiology and anatomy.
• Microvascular Decompression (MVD) · Multiple (Jannetta, Barker) — MVD technique for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm including retrosigmoid approach, identification of offending vessel, and Teflon pledget placement. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Common functional procedure with excellent outcomes when technique is sound.
• Chiari Malformation Decompression · Multiple (Milhorat, Tubbs) — Posterior fossa decompression for Chiari I malformation including bone-only vs duraplasty, tonsillar management, and syrinx considerations. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Common pediatric and adult neurosurgical procedure.
• ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion) · Multiple (Smith-Robinson, Cloward, Benzel) — Step-by-step ACDF technique including anterior cervical approach, discectomy, endplate preparation, graft/cage selection, and plating. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: One of the most commonly performed spine procedures.
• Posterior Cervical Laminectomy and Fusion · Multiple (Heller, Anderson, Benzel) — Posterior cervical decompression and instrumented fusion including lateral mass screws, pedicle screws, and laminoplasty alternatives. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Essential spine procedure for multilevel cervical pathology.
• Lumbar Microdiscectomy · Multiple (Caspar, Yasargil, McCulloch) — Microsurgical technique for lumbar disc herniation including patient positioning, approach, disc fragment removal, and nerve root decompression. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Bread-and-butter spine procedure with high patient satisfaction.
• TLIF/PLIF (Transforaminal/Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion) · Multiple (Harms, Cloward, Benzel) — Interbody fusion techniques via posterior approach including cage placement, pedicle screw instrumentation, and graft options. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Core spine fusion procedure for degenerative disease.
• Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF/OLIF/DLIF) · Multiple (Ozgur, Pimenta) — Lateral retroperitoneal approach to the lumbar spine for interbody fusion, including neuromonitoring and psoas management. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Increasingly common minimally invasive spine approach.
• Intradural Spinal Tumor Surgery · Multiple (McCormick, Klekamp) — Surgical technique for intradural extramedullary (meningioma, schwannoma) and intramedullary (ependymoma, astrocytoma) spinal tumors. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Technically demanding surgery requiring precise microsurgical technique.
• VP Shunt Placement · Multiple (Greenberg, Connolly) — Ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement technique including ventricular catheter placement, valve selection, tunneling, and peritoneal insertion. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Fundamental neurosurgical procedure for hydrocephalus.
• Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) · Multiple (Warf, Hopf) — Endoscopic technique for creating a stoma in the floor of the third ventricle for obstructive hydrocephalus treatment. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Shunt-independent treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus.

📰 Journals (5)

• Operative Neurosurgery (Journal) ↗ · CNS / Oxford Academic — Peer-reviewed journal focused specifically on operative neurosurgical technique with detailed step-by-step articles.
  Why essential: Best journal specifically focused on operative technique.
• Journal of Neurosurgery ↗ · AANS / JNS Publishing — Premier neurosurgery journal covering all subspecialties with clinical research, case reports, and technique articles.
  Why essential: The flagship neurosurgery journal.
• Neurosurgery (Journal) · CNS / Wolters Kluwer — Major neurosurgery journal with clinical articles, operative videos, and consensus guidelines. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: CNS official journal with excellent clinical content.
• World Neurosurgery ↗ · Elsevier — International neurosurgery journal with global perspective on techniques, case reports, and clinical research.
  Why essential: Broad coverage of global neurosurgical practice and technique.
• Neurosurgical Focus (Journal) · AANS / JNS Publishing — Topic-focused neurosurgery journal with each issue dedicated to a specific surgical topic or pathology. (🔎 find/PDF · 📚 library)
  Why essential: Deep dives into specific neurosurgical topics — excellent for case prep.

Source list maintained in neurosurgery-resources.json. Links to books point to a web search + WorldCat library lookup; obtain full text through your institutional library or the publisher.