Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The prevention of iatrogenic spinal cord injury utilizing the evoked spinal cord potential

  • Published:
International Orthopaedics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The evoked spinal cord potential elicited by direct stimulation of the cord has been used clinically to monitor cord function in the course of operations on the spine. The technique used allows measurement of a relatively large amplitude of potential, which is fairly stable against anaesthetics and related drugs, by means of a simple recording system and is sensitive enough to indicate cord damage. Continuous monitoring can easily be carried out. We have encountered no complications when using this method on 99 patients.

Résumé

Le potentiel évoqué provoqué par la stimulation directe de la moelle épinière a été utilisé en clinique pour contrôler la fonction de la moelle lors des interventions sur le rachis. Cette technique permet de mesurer une assez grande amplitude de potentiel, qui est relativement stable à l'égard des anesthésiques et d'autres drogues de même type, grâce à un système simple d'enregistrement; il est suffisamment sensible pour détecter des altérations de la moelle. Une surveillance continue peut aisément être effectuée. Aucun incident n'a été rencontré chez 99 malades lors de l'utilisation de cette méthode.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Engler, G. E., Spielholz, M. I., Bernhard, W. N., Danziger, F., Merkin, H., Wolf, T.: Somatosensory evoked potentials during Harrington instrumentation for scoliosis, J. Bone Joint Surg. [Am.] 60, 528–532 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kurokawa, T.: Spinal cord action potentials evoked by epidural stimulation of cord — A report of human and animal record. Jpn. J. Electroencephalogr. Electromyogr. Clin. Neurophysiol. 1, 64 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hall, J. E., Levine, C. R., Sudhir, K. G.: Intraoperative awaking to monitor spinal cord function during Harrington instrumentation and spine fusion. J. Bone Joint Surg. [Am.] 60, 533–536 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Imai, T.: Human electrospinogram evoked by direct stimulation on the spinal cord through epidural space. J. Jpn. Orthop. Ass. 50, 1037–1056 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  5. MacEwen, G. D., Bunnell, W. P., Sriram, K.: Acute neurological complications in the treatment of scoliosis. J. Bone Joint Surg. [Am.] 57, 404–408 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Nash, C. L., Jr., Brodkey, J. S., Croft, T. J.: A model for electrical monitoring of spinal cord function in scoliosis patients undergoing correction. J. Bone Joint Surg. [Am.] 54, 197–198 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Nash, C. L., Jr., Schatzinger, L., Lorig, R.: Intraoperative monitoring of spinal cord function during scoliosis spine surgery. J. Bone Joint Surg. [Am.] 56, 1765 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Nash, C. L., Jr., Lorig, R. A., Schatzinger, L. A., Brown, R. H.: Spinal cord monitoring during operative treatment of the spine. Clin. Orthop. 126, 100–105 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ponte, A.: Postoperative paraplegia due to hypercorrection of scoliosis and drop of blood pressure. J. Bone Joint Surg. [Am.] 56, 444 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Tamaki, T., Yamashita, T., Kobayashi, H., Hirayama, H.: Spinal cord monitoring. Jpn. J. Electroencephalogr. Electromyogr. 1, 196 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Tsuyama, N., Tsuzuki, N., Kurokawa, T., Imai, T.: Clinical application of spinal cord action potential measurement. Int. Orthop. (SICOT) 2, 39–46 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Vauzelle, C., Stagnara, P., Jouvinroux, P.: Functional monitoring of spinal cord activity during spinal surgery. Clin. Orthop. 93, 173–178 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tamaki, T., Tsuji, H., Inoue, Si. et al. The prevention of iatrogenic spinal cord injury utilizing the evoked spinal cord potential. International Orthopaedics 4, 313–317 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266075

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266075

Key words

Navigation