Spinal cord monitoring. Electrophysiological measures of sensory and motor function during spinal surgery

Various recording methods were tested in 60 patients who underwent scoliosis surgery to find the most suitable technique for the spinal cord monitoring and to elucidate the neuroanatomic relationship of the evoked potentials recorded by these methods. Responses were recorded from the scalp and spine after stimulation of the tibial nerve or the spinal cord. The potentials from electrodes placed over the muscles and the tibial nerve after stimulation of the spinal cord were also recorded. Epidurally recorded spinal evoked potentials after stimulation of the tibial nerve generally consisted of two major negative peaks, NI and NII, and subsequent multiple waves. NI may be mediated through the spinocerebellar tract, and NII is most likely mediated through the dorsal column. The polyphasic waves are probably conducted through the slower sensory ascending pathways. The potentials recorded from the muscle after spinal cord stimulation may be mediated through the motor tract. Various recording techniques described in this study were mutually complimentary in confirming the results of tests recorded in the technically difficult environment of the operating room. In general, spinal cord stimulation recorded from the scalp or the spine was superior to peripheral nerve stimulation in yielding better defined responses. If the potential recorded from the muscle after stimulation of the spinal cord is indeed mediated through the motor pathway, this would be useful to assess motor function during surgery.