The utility of somatosensory evoked potential monitoring during cervical spine surgery: how often does it prompt intervention and affect outcome?

Study Design: Retrospective review of the results of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) performed in cervical spine surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of spinal cord monitoring during cervical spine surgery in a single surgeon's practice, based on how often it prompted an intraoperative intervention.

Overview Of Literature: Intraoperative monitoring during cervical spine surgery is not a universally accepted standard of care.

Can triggered electromyograph thresholds predict safe thoracic pedicle screw placement?

Study Design: A prospective clinical study of thoracic pedicle screws monitored with triggered electromyographic testing.

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity of recording rectus abdominis triggered electromyographs to assess thoracic screw placement.

Summary Of Background Data: Triggered electromyographic testing from lower extremity myotomes has identified medially placed lumbar pedicle screws.

The benefit of neurogenic mixed evoked potentials for intraoperative spinal cord monitoring during correction of severe scoliosis: a case study.

Study Design: A case report is presented.

Objective: To present a case in which surgical correction of a severe scoliotic curve caused unilateral loss of neurogenic mixed evoked potential data despite unchanged somatosensory data.

Summary Of Background Data: Surgical correction of large scoliotic curves presents a risk to the function of the spinal cord.