Transcranial electric motor evoked potential monitoring during scoliosis surgery in children with cerebral palsy and active seizure disorder: is it feasible and safe?

Purpose: Use of spinal cord monitoring in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and neuromuscular scoliosis is challenging. The previous reports suggest low success rates in the setting of CP, and it is unclear if transcranial electric motor evoked potentials (TcMEP) monitoring is contraindicated in patients with an active seizure disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) are patients with CP able to be appropriately monitored with TcMEP? and (2) does TcMEP cause an increase in seizure activity?

Methods: This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective cohort study observing 304 patients from 2011 to 2020.