Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
Transtubular Endoscopic Posterolateral Decompression for L5-S1 Lumbar Lateral Disc Herniation
Published on: October 14, 2022
Monitoring superficial peroneal nerve somatosensory evoked potential during L4-5 lumbar root decompression
1Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, Bloomsburg University, 400 East Second Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815, USA. qyue@bloomu.edu
Background Context:
Posttibial nerve somatosensory evoked potential (PTN-SSEP) often fails to detect individual nerve root dysfunction, whereas dermatomal somatosensory evoked potential (DSSEP) can be difficult to obtain in anesthetized patients.
Purpose:
The main aim of this study is to investigate whether the superficial peroneal nerve SSEP (SPN-SSEP), a cutaneous nerve SSEP derived from L4-5 roots, can be relied on as an intraoperative neurophysiological assessment for L4-5 roots.
Study Design/Setting:
Retrospective review of consecutive case series.
Patient Sample:
Thirty-five consecutive patients who underwent lumbar root microdecompression were reviewed. The control group consisted of 11 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
Outcome Measures:
Intraoperative SSEP measures defined outcome measures.
Methods:
Data from 35 patients undergoing SPN-SSEP, PTN-SSEP, and sural nerve SSEP (SN-SSEP) monitoring during lumbar surgeries were analyzed and compared with the control group of patients underwent ACDF surgery.
Results:
Cortical SPN-SSEP could be readily recorded in more than 90% patients from both groups. The waveforms of SPN-SSEP were about 30% smaller than PTN-SSEP, but very similar to SN-SSEP. Importantly, SPN-SSEP was capable of detecting intraoperative L4-5 root dysfunction without the corresponding PTN-SSEP or SN-SSEP alterations. Overall, SPN-SSEP displayed twofold greater sensitivity over PTN-SSEP or SN-SSEP.
Conclusions:
SPN-SSEP was a more sensitive measure for intraoperative L4-5 nerve root dysfunction in comparison with PTN-SSEP and SN-SSEP.
