title: Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring: focus on cervical myelopathy and related issues.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of neurophysiologic monitoring during surgical procedures for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this article is to review the literature regarding various monitoring techniques as applied to the patient with CSM.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neurophysiologic monitoring is a diagnostic tool for assessment of neurologic function during cervical spine surgery. Recording of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), transcranial electrical motor evoked potentials (tceMEPs), and electromyograms (EMGs) may be useful as these monitoring modalities provide complementary information.
authors.affiliation: Geisinger Medical Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, M.C. 21-30, 100 North Academy Avenue, Danville, PA 17822, USA. vjdevlin@geisinger.edu
authors.forename: Vincent J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaughan
mesh_terms: D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000503:physiopathology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004576:Electromyography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006181:H-Reflex; D006801:Humans; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics