Evaluation of Intraoperative Somatosensory Evoked Potentials During Spine Surgery for Scoliosis

Abstract

Background:    In scoliosis surgery, intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring has reduced the incidence of postoperative neurologic deficits. Many intraoperative environmental and systemic factors affect the amplitude and latency of SSEP waves during surgery.
Objective:    To assess the role played by SSEP during spinal surgery in preventing postoperative neurologic deficits.
Methods:    Pre-, intra- and postoperative tibial SSEP recorded in 51 patients with scoliosis undergoing surgical correction were analyzed. Recorded parameters include the P37 and N45 latencies and amplitudes.
Results: The intraoperative tibial SSEP latencies were significantly prolonged and intraoperative amplitudes were significantly reduced in comparison to baseline recordings. There was highly significant increase in the mean latency of alarm readings of tibial P37 and N45 waves from baseline. Likewise, there was statistically highly significant decrement in the mean amplitude of the alarm readings of tibial P37 and N45 wave from baseline. Pre- and postoperative latencies and amplitudes were compared; the differences were not significant.
Conclusion: The intraoperative SSEP neuromonitoring is valuable in the prevention of neurological injury during surgical procedures.
Keywords: Intraoperative monitoring, somatosensory evoked potential, scoliosis, total intravenous anesthesia
Citation: Khudhur AM, Al-Hashimi AF, Umara MU. Evaluation of intraoperative somatosensory evoked potentials during spine surgery for scoliosis. Iraqi JMS. 2025; 23(1): 83-91. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.23.1.10