Researchers analyzed intraoperative monitoring outcomes in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients younger than four years old, according to a study published in The Spine Journal.
The study included 37 children and 120 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Researchers labeled monitoring changes as transcranial motor evoked potentials (MEP) or somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) loss. The study analyzed IOM parameters of amplitude, latency and waveform as well as monitoring outcomes of signal changes and true and false positive.
Here are four observations:
1. Researchers found all young patients had stable MEP and SEP baseline.
2. The young patients' MEP amplitude proved lower than AIS patients' MEP amplitude.
3. Children under 4 years presented more monitoring changes, but rare true-positive findings.
4. Researchers concluded IOM baseline can be "obtained satisfactorily" in children younger than four years old but rare true-positive findings. Additionally, "low MEP amplitude and poor waveforms are common."