On the determination of PL-manifolds by handles of lower dimension (Q1313940)

Every self homeomorphism of \(\sharp^ p (S^ 1\times S^ 2)\) extends to a self homeomorphism of \(\sharp^ p (S^ 1 \times D^ 3)\) [\textit{F. Laudenbach} and \textit{V. Poénaru}, Bull. Soc. Math. Fr. 100, 337-344 (1972; Zbl 0242.57015)]. Hence every closed PL 4-manifold is determined up to PL homeomorphism by the union of its 0-, 1- and 2-handles [\textit{J.- M. Montesinos}, in `Geometric topology', Proc. Conf. Athens/Ga 1977, 219- 237 (1979; Zbl 0479.57007)]. Here surgery techniques are used instead of 3-manifold topology to prove the analogous results in higher dimensions. In particular, every closed PL \(n\)-manifold is determined up to PL homeomorphism by the union of its handles of index at most \(n-2\).