INTRAOPERATIVE ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF THE SPINAL-CORD IN CERVICAL MYELOPATHY

Intraoperative spinal ultrasonography (IOSS) was used to evaluate and monitor the spinal cord in 49 patients with cervical myelopathy. Intra operative spinal ultrasonography demonstrated movements of the dura ma ter and the spinal cord at the cardiac rate, with some variability in intensity and mods. It also delineated the anterior surface of the spi nal canal and configuration of the spinal cord. Statistical analysis s howed no correlation between clinical outcome and morphologic restorat ion, and between clinical outcome and variations in intensity or mode of the pulsatile spinal cord movements. Spinal cord motions were surmi sed to be generated not only by the anterior spinal artery, but also b y other factors. Dural pulsations clearly did not always imply the abs ence of compression of the spinal cord. Intraoperative spinal ultrason ography was thus quite useful for monitoring decompression in cervical myelopathy.