Am. Padberg et al., VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF SPINAL-CORD MONITORING IN NEUROMUSCULAR SPINAL DEFORMITY SURGERY, Journal of spinal disorders, 9(2), 1996, pp. 150-158
Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) have become a standard of care
in surgery for spinal deformity. Recent reports in the literature hav
e suggested SSEP monitoring is not efficacious in surgeries for patien
ts with neuromuscular disease. Electrophysiologic data were retrospect
ively analyzed from 74 patients with various neuromuscular disorders u
ndergoing spinal-deformity surgery from 1989 through February 1995 at
this medical center. The monitoring protocol included SSEPs recorded f
rom multiple sites located cortically, subcortically, and peripherally
. Neurogenic motor evoked potentials (NMEPs) were also employed. Anest
hetic regimens were controlled for compatibility with evoked potential
monitoring. Use of this intraoperative monitoring protocol resulted i
n reliable data for 95% of the patient population having baseline resp
onses. Findings suggest that evoked potentials can be used effectively
during surgery for neuromuscular spinal deformity. Use of a specific
protocol allowed acquisition of reliable data intraoperatively, sugges
ting these methods are a valid means of monitoring neurologic status.