Leicestershire,
United Kingdom 
thanks the wood is not dead and their is signs of very small buds but they are not opening
9 May, 2010
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Is this the Acer, Tropicalforest? If there are signs of life - leave it alone, be patient and wait and see what happens before you do anything. It could have been wind damage, and the shrub may well recover.
Good luck!
9 May, 2010