Laryngeal Electromyography, 3rd Edition

This is obviously a highly specialised paperback, which will appeal to voice therapists and those in our ENT community who specialise in laryngology. The Preface tells us it is also aimed at neurologists, physiatrists (a new term to me, I confess) and electrophysiologists. As a third edition, it carries new coverage of intra-operative monitoring and evidence-based research, and updates the basic sciences. Seven chapters range in coverage of clinical applications, to vocal fold mobility disorders and the evolution and literature on electromyography. There is a chapter of seven case studies to outline clinical applications, and, a personal favourite, one entitled ‘Electrophysiological Monitoring of Laryngeal Nerves During Anterior Neck Surgery’ (which still stresses the need to identify the nerves visually, whatever).

The three appendices are particularly useful. The first just summarises what is known, in easily scanned, annotated form. The second is a very well done series of reviews presenting evidence-based conclusions. Finally comes ‘Suggested Reading’, which I would guess as having about 600 references and would prove a challenge I suspect.

I hope I will be forgiven for singling out the first author, like myself a former fellow in neurotology and skull base surgery at The University of Michigan. I have reviewed many of his previous works and was not at all surprised to learn that he has now written ‘approximately 1000 publications’ and no fewer than 61 books, by no means all on laryngology and voice disorders.

The conclusion is that the technique is not as widely adopted in specialist clinics as its value might suggest, and this book could do much to correct that.