Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring of patients undergoing idiopathic scoliosis surgical correction

摘要

OBJECTIVE: to present the methodology used for neurophysiological monitoring of patients undergoing idiopathic scoliosis correction with surgical instrumentation, using thoracic and lumbar pedicle screws. METHODS: retrospective study of the medical records of 32 patients submitted to surgery at the Spine Surgery Service of Instituto da Coluna, Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil, from 2004 to 2008. Ages ranged from 11 to 18 years, and the majority of the patients was female (93.75%). RESULTS: a correlation between positive clinical findings and pedicle screw malposition was found in six patients submitted to electromyographic stimulation instruments test, with no evidence of complications after correction of screw position. CONCLUSION: results confirm the efficacy of intraoperative monitoring.