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The NBE curriculum list, reproduced exactly, plus the editions residents actually read in 2026 — with journals, a year-wise reading plan, and the references you will need for your thesis and exit practical.
Doing the MCh instead? The same superspecialty is covered at MCh Neurosurgery books.
These 11 titles are reproduced as they appear in the National Board of Examinations curriculum document for Neuro Surgery — spelling and abbreviations included. Treat it as the scope anchor, not as a shopping list.
Source: National Board of Examinations curriculum document for Neuro Surgery
The books most residents actually buy. These are the editions in circulation now, with a note on whether each is something you read through, keep as a reference, or open only for the viva.
Journal club and the recent-advances parts of the theory paper come from here. You do not need all of them — follow one Indian and two international titles properly.
Three years of superspecialty training goes faster than it sounds, and most of it is spent on the floor. The order below is what works for most DrNB Neuro Surgery residents.
Build anatomy from Rhoton and read Principles of Neurological Surgery alongside Greenberg for quick reference; start systematic neuroimaging with Osborn. Register the thesis.
Read Youmans by topic as the operative exposure builds, take up Schmidek and Sweet for approaches and Benzel for spine, and follow the WHO CNS classification.
Revise Greenberg comprehensively, selectively re-read Youmans, drill imaging and instrument spots, rehearse approach descriptions, and practise timed short notes.
Protocol, methodology and reporting standards examiners expect you to have followed.
Cases, spotters and stations that come up again and again in the exit exam.
DrNB Neuro Surgery theory is three papers of 100 marks and three hours each in short-notes format, with 150/300 needed, and a separate 300-mark practical taken after clearing theory. The practical combines clinical cases and/or OSCE with viva. Neurosurgery practicals lean heavily on neuroimaging spots, surgical anatomy and approach description, and instrument/implant identification alongside the clinical cases.
The National Board of Examinations curriculum for Neuro Surgery lists 11 titles, beginning with Brain Surgery: Complication avoidance and management - Michael, L.J. Apuzzo. 2vol, Elsevier,. The full list is reproduced on this page exactly as it is published.
Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery by H. Richard Winn is the usual anchor. The definitive multi-volume neurosurgical reference and the basis of theory answers.
DrNB Neuro Surgery is a superspecialty course taken after a broad-specialty MD, MS or DNB, so the reading is narrower and deeper. The broad-specialty texts are assumed knowledge by the time you start.
No. Most residents own two or three and use the department or library copy for the rest. That is exactly why printing selected chapters from a PDF works out cheaper than buying volumes you will open twice.
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