Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2025
Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
The utility of intraoperative ultrasonography for spinal cord surgery
Hangeul Park1, Jun-Hoe Kim1, Chang-Hyun Lee1,2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Objectives:
Intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) offers the advantage of providing real-time imaging features, yet it is not generally used. This study aims to discuss the benefits of utilizing IOUS in spinal cord surgery and review related literature.
Materials And Methods:
Patients who underwent spinal cord surgery utilizing IOUS at a single institution were retrospectively collected and analyzed to evaluate the benefits derived from the use of IOUS.
Results:
A total of 43 consecutive patients were analyzed. Schwannoma was the most common tumor (35%), followed by cavernous angioma (23%) and ependymoma (16%). IOUS confirmed tumor extent and location before dura opening in 42 patients (97.7%). It was particularly helpful for myelotomy in deep-seated intramedullary lesions to minimize neural injury in 13 patients (31.0% of 42 patients). IOUS also detected residual or hidden lesions in 3 patients (7.0%) and verified the absence of hematoma post-tumor removal in 23 patients (53.5%). In 3 patients (7.0%), confirming no intradural lesions after removing extradural tumors avoided additional dural incisions. IOUS identified surrounding blood vessels and detected dural defects in one patient (2.3%) respectively.
Conclusions:
The IOUS can be a valuable tool for spinal cord surgery in identifying the exact location of the pathologic lesions, confirming the completeness of surgery, and minimizing the risk of neural and vascular injury in a real-time fashion.
