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Current approach on spinal cord monitoring: the point of view of the neurologist, the anesthesiologist and the spine surgeon

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Abstract

Optimal outcome in spine surgery is dependent of the coordination of efforts by the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and neurophysiologist. This is perhaps best illustrated by the rising use of intraoperative spinal cord monitoring for complex spine surgery. The challenges presented by neurophysiologic monitoring, in particular the use of somatosensory and motor evoked potentials, requires an understanding by each member for the team of the proposed operative procedure as well as an ability to help differentiate clinically important signal changes from false positive changes. Surgical, anesthetic, and monitoring issues need to be addressed when relying on this form of monitoring to reduce the potential of negative outcomes in spine surgery. This article provides a practical overview from the perspective of the neurophysiologist, the anesthesiologist, and the surgeon on the requirements which must be understood by these participants in order to successfully contribute to a positive outcome when a patient is undergoing complex spine surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement None of the authors has any potential conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Thomas N. Pajewski

  2. Division of Scoliosis and Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, P.O. Box 800710, Charlottesville, VA, 22908-0710, USA

    Vincent Arlet

  3. Department of Neurology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Lawrence H. Phillips

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  1. Thomas N. Pajewski
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  2. Vincent Arlet
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Correspondence to Vincent Arlet.

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Pajewski, T.N., Arlet, V. & Phillips, L.H. Current approach on spinal cord monitoring: the point of view of the neurologist, the anesthesiologist and the spine surgeon. Eur Spine J 16 (Suppl 2), 115–129 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-007-0419-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-007-0419-6

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