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INTRA‐OPERATIVE SPINAL CORD MONITORING DURING SURGERY FOR SCOLIOSIS USING SOMATOSENSORY EVOKED POTENTIALS
Author(s) -
Whittle I. R.,
Johnston I. H.,
Besser M.,
Taylor T. K. F.,
Overtons J.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1984.tb05445.x
Subject(s) - medicine , somatosensory evoked potential , spinal cord , scoliosis , popliteal fossa , spinal surgery , surgery , electrophysiology , anesthesia , tibial nerve , spinal cord stimulation , somatosensory system , intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring , stimulation , psychiatry
The method of intra‐operative monitoring of spinal cord function by spinal somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP), as used at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children during surgery for scoliosis is described. Using a non‐polarisable platinum spinal epidural electrode, SEP elicited by tibial and peroneal nerve stimulation in the popliteal fossa are recorded proximal to the level of spinal correction. The large amplitude and discrete waveform of the SEP enable rapid signal acquisition and easy interpretation. The spinal SEP is stable under both therapeutic hypotension and general anaesthesia. Electrophysiological monitoring has now superceded the ‘wake‐up’ test as an index of spinal cord function during corrective surgery for scoliosis.