title: Spinal cord monitoring in operations for neuromuscular scoliosis.
abstract: We reviewed retrospectively the role of monitoring of somatosensory spinal evoked potentials (SSEP) in 99 patients with neuromuscular scoliosis who had had operative correction with Luque-Galveston rods and sublaminar wiring. Our findings showed that SSEP monitoring was useful and that a 50% decrease in the amplitude of the trace optimised both sensitivity and specificity. The detection of true-positive results was higher than in cases of idiopathic scoliosis, but the method was less sensitive and specific and there were more false-negative results. In contrast with the findings in idiopathic scoliosis, recovery of the trace was associated with a 50% to 60% risk of neurological impairment. Only one permanent injury occurred during the use of this technique, and any temporary impairment resolved within two months.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Orthopaedics and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Trust, Stanmore, London, UK.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Noordeen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bentley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009134:Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*