Intraoperative Somatosensory Evoked Potentials Improve The Predictive Analysis Of Surgery In Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

ObjectiveThis study was designed to analyze the improvements of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) signals in intraoperative spinal monitoring on predicting the post-operative spinal functions and post-operative results of surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).MethodTwenty-four cases of cervical surgery were being monitored by intraoperative SEP. The changes of SEP signals in intraoperative spinal monitoring were recorded. In these cases, the patients' JOA score in preoperative stage, post-operative week 1, post-operative week 2 and the rate of the post-operative improvement were analyzed. The relationship between the intraoperative changes of SEP and the restoration of spinal functions , postoperative results of surgery for CSM was studied.ResultAccording to the variance of intraoperative SEP , the patients were divided into the improvement group (15 cases) and the non-improvement group (9 cases). After operation, comparing with the non-improvement group, the improvement group had a better recovery in the restoration of spinal functions and post-operative results of surgery for CSM.ConclusionIntraoperative improvements of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) is a valuable method in predicting the short-term restoration of spinal functions and post-operative results of surgery for CSM.