ABSTRACT
Objective To elevate the efficacy and safety of descending neurogenic evoked potentials (DNEP) monitoring during severe rigid spinal deformity surgery.Methods All of 108 patients (43 males,65 females) who underwent surgical treatment for spinal deformity in our spinal center from July 2010 to August 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.The average age (17.5±5.8) ys(range 12-50 ys),the average following period is 38.6 months(range 24-52 months).Combined monitoring of SEP,MEP and DNEP model were used during surgery.All subjects with no neurological deficits preoperatively and got satisfied outcomes.Respectively evaluate the results of neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring (IOM).Data were collected to elevate the efficacy and safety of DNEP monitoring.Results All of 108 patients,15 patients (13.9％,15/108) showed significant changes of neurophysiological parameters,of which 9 cases (60％,9/15) were identified as true positive and 6 cases (40％,6/15) were identified as false positive.During the following-up period,2 patients developed permanent neurological deficit,and 3 patients showed transient neurological deficit who got fully recovered within 6 months after operation.DNEP showed alert in all 5 patients with truepositive alarm,of which 2 patients developed permanent neurological dysfunction and 3 cases showed postoperative short nerve dysfunction that got fully recovery within 6 months after operation.The sensitivity and specificity of SEP+MEP and DNEP were 100％ and 97.98％,100％ and 98.99％,respectively.Conclusion Combining use of MEP+SEP+DNEP monitoring during surgical treatment of spinal deformities presented to be a highly reliable method for the detection and prevention of iatrogenic injury.The results confirmed a high efficacy and safety of DNEP monitoring during spinal surgery.