NEUROPHYSIOLOGIC DETECTION OF A UNILATERAL MOTOR DEFICIT OCCURRING DURING THE NONCRITICAL PHASE OF SCOLIOSIS SURGERY

Study Design. A four-path neurophysiologic monitoring system was desig ned for spinal cord monitoring during spinal surgery. It was used main ly during scoliosis surgery. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of th is technique. Methods. Sensory and motor pathways were continuously mo nitored bilaterally from skin incision to awakening, with independent evaluation of the right and left pathways for each modality. Results. This monitoring technique detected a transient unilateral motor defici t that occurred during the dissection phase of spinal surgery for scol iosis before any instrumentation or mobilization of the spine.