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Reddy RP, Singh-Varma A, Chang R, Vedire A, Anetakis KM, Balzer JR, Crammond DJ, Shandal V, Lee JY, Shaw JD, Thirumala PD. Transcranial Motor Evoked Potentials as a Predictive Modality for Postoperative Deficit in Cervical Spine Decompression Surgery - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Global Spine J 2024; 14:1609-1628. [PMID: 38047537 DOI: 10.1177/21925682231219224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether transcranial motor evoked potential (TcMEP) alarms can predict postoperative neurologic complications in patients undergoing cervical spine decompression surgery. METHODS A meta-analysis of the literature was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase to retrieve published reports on intraoperative TcMEP monitoring for patients undergoing cervical spine decompression surgery. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), of overall, reversible, and irreversible TcMEP changes for predicting postoperative neurological deficit were calculated. A subgroup analysis was performed to compare anterior vs posterior approaches. RESULTS Nineteen studies consisting of 4608 patients were analyzed. The overall incidence of postoperative neurological deficits was 2.58% (119/4608). Overall TcMEP changes had a sensitivity of 56%, specificity of 94%, and DOR of 19.26 for predicting deficit. Reversible and irreversible changes had sensitivities of 16% and 49%, specificities of 95% and 98%, and DORs of 3.54 and 71.74, respectively. In anterior procedures, TcMEP changes had a DOR of 17.57, sensitivity of 49%, and specificity of 94%. In posterior procedures, TcMEP changes had a DOR of 21.01, sensitivity of 55%, and specificity of 94%. CONCLUSION TcMEP monitoring has high specificity but low sensitivity for predicting postoperative neurological deficit in cervical spine decompression surgery. Patients with new postoperative neurological deficits were 19 times more likely to have experienced intraoperative TcMEP changes than those without new deficits, with irreversible TcMEP changes indicating a much higher risk of deficit than reversible TcMEP changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajiv P Reddy
- Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Spine Research, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anya Singh-Varma
- Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Spine Research, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robert Chang
- Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Spine Research, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Abhinav Vedire
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Katherine M Anetakis
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Balzer
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Donald J Crammond
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Varun Shandal
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Joon Y Lee
- Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Spine Research, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeremy D Shaw
- Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Spine Research, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Parthasarathy D Thirumala
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Kim JS, Kim H, Hyun SJ, Kim KJ, Kim SM, Park KS. Different cutoff value of motor evoked potentials for the postoperative outcome in the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament surgery in the cervical and thoracic spine. Spine J 2024; 24:572-581. [PMID: 38081458 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2023.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT Transcranial muscle motor evoked potentials (Tc-mMEPs), a key component of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM), effectively reflect the changes in corticospinal tract integrity and are closely related to the occurrence of the postoperative motor deficit (PMD). Most institutions have applied a specified (fixed) alarm criterion for the heterogeneous groups in terms of etiologies or lesion location. However, given the high risk of PMD in ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) surgery, it is essential to determine a tailored cutoff value for IONM. PURPOSE We aimed to establish the intraoperative cutoff value of Tc-mMEPs reduction for predicting PMD in OPLL according to lesion levels. DESIGN Retrospective analysis using a review of electrical medical records. PATIENT SAMPLE In this study, we included 126 patients diagnosed with OPLL, who underwent surgery and IONM. OUTCOME MEASURES The occurrence of PMD immediately and 1 year after operation, as well as the decrement of intraoperative Tc-mMEPs amplitude. METHODS We analyzed OPLL surgery outcomes using Tc-mMEPs monitoring. Limbs with acceptable baseline Tc-mMEPs in the tibialis anterior or abductor hallucis were included in the final set. PMD was defined as a ≥1 decrease in Medical Research Council score in the legs, and it was evaluated immediately and 1year after operation. The reduction ratios of Tc-mMEPs amplitude compared with baseline value were calculated at the two time points: the maximal decrement during surgery and at the end of surgery. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the cutoff value of Tc-mMEPs amplitude decrement for predicting PMDs. RESULTS In total, 203 limbs from 102 patients with cervical OPLL and 42 limbs from 24 patients with thoracic OPLL were included. PMD developed more frequently in thoracic lesions than in cervical lesions (immediate, 9.52% vs 2.46%; 1 year, 4.76% vs 0.99%). The Tc-mMEPs amplitude cutoff point at the end of surgery for PMD (both immediate and 1-year) was a decrease of 93% in cervical and 50% in thoracic OPLL surgeries. Similarly, the Tc-mMEPs amplitude cutoff point at the maximal decrement during surgery for PMD (both immediate and 1 year) was a reduction of 97% in cervical and 85% in thoracic OPLL surgeries. CONCLUSIONS The thoracic lesion exhibited a lower cutoff value than the cervical lesion for both immediate and long-term persistent PMD in OPLL surgery (Tc-mMEPs at the end of surgery measuring 93% vs 50%; and Tc-mMEPs at the maximal decrement measuring 97% vs 85% for cervical and thoracic lesions, respectively). To enhance the reliability of monitoring, considering the application of tailored alarm criteria for Tc-mMEPs changes based on lesion location in OPLL could be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Soon Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Haelim Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Jae Hyun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Jeong Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Min Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Seok Park
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Fehlings MG, Quddusi A, Skelly AC, Brodt ED, Moghaddamjou A, Malvea A, Hejrati N, Srikandarajah N, Alvi MA, Stabler-Morris S, Dettori JR, Tetreault LA, Evaniew N, Kwon BK. Definition, Frequency and Risk Factors for Intra-Operative Spinal Cord Injury: A Knowledge Synthesis. Global Spine J 2024; 14:80S-104S. [PMID: 38526927 DOI: 10.1177/21925682231190613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Mixed-methods approach. OBJECTIVES Intra-operative spinal cord injury (ISCI) is a devastating complication of spinal surgery. Presently, a uniform definition for ISCI does not exist. Consequently, the reported frequency of ISCI and important risk factors vary in the existing literature. To address these gaps in knowledge, a mixed-methods knowledge synthesis was undertaken. METHODS A scoping review was conducted to review the definitions used for ISCI and to ascertain the frequency of ISCI. The definition of ISCI underwent formal review, revision and voting by the Guidelines Development Group (GDG). A systematic review of the literature was conducted to determine the risk factors for ISCI. Based on this systematic review and GDG input, a table was created to summarize the factors deemed to increase the risk for ISCI. All reviews were done according to PRISMA standards and were registered on PROSPERO. RESULTS The frequency of ISCI ranged from 0 to 61%. Older age, male sex, cardiovascular disease including hypertension, severe myelopathy, blood loss, requirement for osteotomy, coronal deformity angular ratio, and curve magnitude were associated with an increased risk of ISCI. Better pre-operative neurological status and use of intra-operative neuromonitoring (IONM) were associated with a decreased risk of ISCI. The risk factors for ISCI included a rigid thoracic curve with high deformity angular ratio, revision congenital deformity with significant cord compression and myelopathy, extrinsic intradural or extradural lesions with cord compression and myelopathy, intramedullary spinal cord tumor, unstable spine fractures (bilateral facet dislocation and disc herniation), extension distraction injury with ankylosing spondylitis, ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) with severe cord compression, and moderate to severe myelopathy. CONCLUSIONS ISCI has been defined as "a new or worsening neurological deficit attributable to spinal cord dysfunction during spine surgery that is diagnosed intra-operatively via neurophysiologic monitoring or by an intraoperative wake-up test, or immediately post-operatively based on clinical assessment". This paper defines clinical and imaging factors which increase the risk for ISCI and that could assist clinicians in decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ayesha Quddusi
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Ali Moghaddamjou
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anahita Malvea
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nader Hejrati
- Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nisaharan Srikandarajah
- Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammed Ali Alvi
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Nathan Evaniew
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Department of Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Brian K Kwon
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Tetreault LA, Kwon BK, Evaniew N, Alvi MA, Skelly AC, Fehlings MG. A Clinical Practice Guideline on the Timing of Surgical Decompression and Hemodynamic Management of Acute Spinal Cord Injury and the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Intraoperative Spinal Cord Injury: Introduction, Rationale, and Scope. Global Spine J 2024; 14:10S-24S. [PMID: 38632715 PMCID: PMC10964894 DOI: 10.1177/21925682231183969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Protocol for the development of clinical practice guidelines following the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) standards. OBJECTIVES Acute SCI or intraoperative SCI (ISCI) can have devastating physical and psychological consequences for patients and their families. The treatment of SCI has dramatically evolved over the last century as a result of preclinical and clinical research that has addressed important knowledge gaps, including injury mechanisms, disease pathophysiology, medical management, and the role of surgery. In an acute setting, clinicians are faced with critical decisions on how to optimize neurological recovery in patients with SCI that include the role and timing of surgical decompression and the best strategies for hemodynamic management. The lack of consensus surrounding these treatments has prevented standardization of care across centers and has created uncertainty with respect to how to best manage patients with SCI. ISCI is a feared complication that can occur in the best of hands. Unfortunately, there are no systematic reviews or clinical practice guidelines to assist spine surgeons in the assessment and management of ISCI in adult patients undergoing spinal surgery. Given these limitations, it is the objective of this initiative to develop evidence-based recommendations that will inform the management of both SCI and ISCI. This protocol describes the rationale for developing clinical practice guidelines on (i) the timing of surgical decompression in acute SCI; (ii) the hemodynamic management of acute SCI; and (iii) the prevention, identification, and management of ISCI in patients undergoing surgery for spine-related pathology. METHODS Systematic reviews were conducted according to PRISMA standards in order to summarize the current body of evidence and inform the guideline development process. The guideline development process followed the approach proposed by the GRADE working group. Separate multidisciplinary, international groups were created to perform the systematic reviews and formulate the guidelines. All potential conflicts of interest were vetted in advance. The sponsors exerted no influence over the editorial process or the development of the guidelines. RESULTS This process resulted in both systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines/care pathways related to the role and timing of surgery in acute SCI; the optimal hemodynamic management of acute SCI; and the prevention, diagnosis and management of ISCI. CONCLUSIONS The ultimate goal of this clinical practice guideline initiative was to develop evidence-based recommendations for important areas of controversy in SCI and ISCI in hopes of improving neurological outcomes, reducing morbidity, and standardizing care across settings. Throughout this process, critical knowledge gaps and future directions were also defined.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian K Kwon
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nathan Evaniew
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Department of Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Mohammed Ali Alvi
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Michael G Fehlings
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Fehlings MG, Alvi MA, Evaniew N, Tetreault LA, Martin AR, McKenna SL, Rahimi-Movaghar V, Ha Y, Kirshblum S, Hejrati N, Srikandarajah N, Quddusi A, Moghaddamjou A, Malvea A, Pinto RR, Marco RAW, Newcombe VFJ, Basu S, Strantzas S, Zipser CM, Douglas S, Laufer I, Chou D, Saigal R, Arnold PM, Hawryluk GWJ, Skelly AC, Kwon BK. A Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Intraoperative Spinal Cord Injury: Recommendations for Use of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring and for the Use of Preoperative and Intraoperative Protocols for Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery. Global Spine J 2024; 14:212S-222S. [PMID: 38526921 DOI: 10.1177/21925682231202343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Development of a clinical practice guideline following the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) process. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were to develop guidelines that outline the utility of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) to detect intraoperative spinal cord injury (ISCI) among patients undergoing spine surgery, to define a subset of patients undergoing spine surgery at higher risk for ISCI and to develop protocols to prevent, diagnose, and manage ISCI. METHODS All systematic reviews were performed according to PRISMA standards and registered on PROSPERO. A multidisciplinary, international Guidelines Development Group (GDG) reviewed and discussed the evidence using GRADE protocols. Consensus was defined by 80% agreement among GDG members. A systematic review and diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) meta-analysis was performed to synthesize pooled evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of IONM to detect ISCI among patients undergoing spinal surgery. The IONM modalities evaluated included somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), motor evoked potentials (MEPs), electromyography (EMG), and multimodal neuromonitoring. Utilizing this knowledge and their clinical experience, the multidisciplinary GDG created recommendations for the use of IONM to identify ISCI in patients undergoing spine surgery. The evidence related to existing care pathways to manage ISCI was summarized and based on this a novel AO Spine-PRAXIS care pathway was created. RESULTS Our recommendations are as follows: (1) We recommend that intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring be employed for high risk patients undergoing spine surgery, and (2) We suggest that patients at "high risk" for ISCI during spine surgery be proactively identified, that after identification of such patients, multi-disciplinary team discussions be undertaken to manage patients, and that an intraoperative protocol including the use of IONM be implemented. A care pathway for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of ISCI has been developed by the GDG. CONCLUSION We anticipate that these guidelines will promote the use of IONM to detect and manage ISCI, and promote the use of preoperative and intraoperative checklists by surgeons and other team members for high risk patients undergoing spine surgery. We welcome teams to implement and evaluate the care pathway created by our GDG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammed Ali Alvi
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nathan Evaniew
- Department of Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - Allan R Martin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar
- Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yoon Ha
- Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Steven Kirshblum
- Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Nader Hejrati
- Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nisaharan Srikandarajah
- Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ayesha Quddusi
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ali Moghaddamjou
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anahita Malvea
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ricardo Rodrigues Pinto
- Spinal Unit (UVM), Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, Hospital CUF Trindade, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rex A W Marco
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Virginia F J Newcombe
- Department of Medicine, University Division of Anaesthesia and PACE, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Samuel Strantzas
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carl M Zipser
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sam Douglas
- Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ilya Laufer
- Department of Neurosurgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dean Chou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rajiv Saigal
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Paul M Arnold
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Gregory W J Hawryluk
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic Akron GeneralHospital, Akron, OH, USA
| | | | - Brian K Kwon
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Alvi MA, Kwon BK, Hejrati N, Tetreault LA, Evaniew N, Skelly AC, Fehlings MG. Accuracy of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring in the Diagnosis of Intraoperative Neurological Decline in the Setting of Spinal Surgery-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Global Spine J 2024; 14:105S-149S. [PMID: 38632716 PMCID: PMC10964897 DOI: 10.1177/21925682231196514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. OBJECTIVES In an effort to prevent intraoperative neurological injury during spine surgery, the use of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has increased significantly in recent years. Using IONM, spinal cord function can be evaluated intraoperatively by recording signals from specific nerve roots, motor tracts, and sensory tracts. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) studies to evaluate the efficacy of IONM among patients undergoing spine surgery for any indication. METHODS The current systematic review and meta-analysis was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis statement for Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies (PRISMA-DTA) and was registered on PROSPERO. A comprehensive search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE and SCOPUS for all studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of neuromonitoring, including somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP), motor evoked potential (MEP) and electromyography (EMG), either on their own or in combination (multimodal). Studies were included if they reported raw numbers for True Positives (TP), False Negatives (FN), False Positives (FP) and True Negative (TN) either in a 2 × 2 contingency table or in text, and if they used postoperative neurologic exam as a reference standard. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated to evaluate the overall efficacy of each modality type using a bivariate model adapted by Reitsma et al, for all spine surgeries and for individual disease groups and regions of spine. The risk of bias (ROB) of included studies was assessed using the quality assessment tool for diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS-2). RESULTS A total of 163 studies were included; 52 of these studies with 16,310 patients reported data for SSEP, 68 studies with 71,144 patients reported data for MEP, 16 studies with 7888 patients reported data for EMG and 69 studies with 17,968 patients reported data for multimodal monitoring. The overall sensitivity, specificity, DOR and AUC for SSEP were 71.4% (95% CI 54.8-83.7), 97.1% (95% CI 95.3-98.3), 41.9 (95% CI 24.1-73.1) and .899, respectively; for MEP, these were 90.2% (95% CI 86.2-93.1), 96% (95% CI 94.3-97.2), 103.25 (95% CI 69.98-152.34) and .927; for EMG, these were 48.3% (95% CI 31.4-65.6), 92.9% (95% CI 84.4-96.9), 11.2 (95% CI 4.84-25.97) and .773; for multimodal, these were found to be 83.5% (95% CI 81-85.7), 93.8% (95% CI 90.6-95.9), 60 (95% CI 35.6-101.3) and .895, respectively. Using the QUADAS-2 ROB analysis, of the 52 studies reporting on SSEP, 13 (25%) were high-risk, 10 (19.2%) had some concerns and 29 (55.8%) were low-risk; for MEP, 8 (11.7%) were high-risk, 21 had some concerns and 39 (57.3%) were low-risk; for EMG, 4 (25%) were high-risk, 3 (18.75%) had some concerns and 9 (56.25%) were low-risk; for multimodal, 14 (20.3%) were high-risk, 13 (18.8%) had some concerns and 42 (60.7%) were low-risk. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that all neuromonitoring modalities have diagnostic utility in successfully detecting impending or incident intraoperative neurologic injuries among patients undergoing spine surgery for any condition, although it is clear that the accuracy of each modality differs.PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42023384158.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Ali Alvi
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brian K Kwon
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nader Hejrati
- Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Nathan Evaniew
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Department of Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - Michael G Fehlings
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Epstein NE, Agulnick MA. Perspective: Triple intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) should be considered the standard of care (SOC) for performing cervical surgery for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Surg Neurol Int 2023; 14:336. [PMID: 37810312 PMCID: PMC10559385 DOI: 10.25259/sni_710_2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Triple Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) should be considered the standard of care (SOC) for performing cervical surgery for Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL). IONM's three modalities and their alerts include; Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEP: =/> 50% amplitude loss; =/>10% latency loss), Motor Evoked Potentials (MEP: =/> 70% amplitude loss; =/>10-15% latency loss), and Electromyography (loss of EMG, including active triggered EMG (t-EMG)). Methods During cervical OPLL operations, the 3 IONM alerts together better detect intraoperative surgical errors, enabling spine surgeons to immediately institute appropriate resuscitative measures and minimize/avoid permanent neurological deficits/injuries. Results This focused review of the literature regarding cervical OPLL surgery showed that SEP, MEP, and EMG monitoring used together better reduced the incidence of new nerve root (e.g., mostly C5 but including other root palsies), brachial plexus injuries (i.e., usually occurring during operative positioning), and/or spinal cord injuries (i.e., one study of OPLL patients documented a reduced 3.79% incidence of cord deficits utilizing triple IONM vs. a higher 14.06% frequency of neurological injuries occurring without IONM). Conclusions Triple IONM (i.e., SEP, MEP, and EMG) should be considered the standard of care (SOC) for performing cervical OPLL surgery. However, the positive impact of IONM on OPLL surgical outcomes critically relies on spinal surgeons' immediate response to SEP, MEP, and/or EMG alerts/significant deterioration with appropriate resuscitative measures to limit/avert permanent neurological deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy E Epstein
- Professor of Clinical Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, State University of NY at Stony Brook and Editor-in-Chief Surgical Neurology International NY and c/o Dr. Marc Agulnick 1122 Franklin Avenue Suite 106, Garden City, New York, United States
| | - Marc A Agulnick
- Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, NYU Hospital Long Island c/o Dr. Marc Agulnick 1122 Franklin Avenue Suite 106, Garden City, NY, United States
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Holdefer RN, Seubert CN, Skinner SA, Humbert AT, Edwards ME, MacDonald DB. Analyzing the value of IONM as a complex intervention: The gap between published evidence and clinical practice. Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 151:59-73. [PMID: 37163826 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.03.364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) was investigated as a complex intervention (CI) as defined by the United Kingdom Medical Research Council (MRC) in published studies to identify challenges and solutions in estimating IONM's effects on postoperative outcomes. METHODS A scoping review to April 2022 of the influence of setting on what was implemented as IONM and how it influenced postoperative outcomes was performed for studies that compared IONM to no IONM cohorts. IONM complexity was assessed with the iCAT_SR tool. Causal graphs were used to represent this complexity. RESULTS IONM implementation depended on the surgical procedure, institution and/or surgeon. "How" IONM influenced neurologic outcomes was attributed to surgeon or institutional experience with the surgical procedure, surgeon or institutional experience with IONM, co-interventions in addition to IONM, models of IONM service delivery and individual characteristics of the IONM provider. Indirect effects of IONM mediated by extent of tumor resection, surgical approach, changes in operative procedure, shorter operative time, and duration of aneurysm clipping were also described. There were no quantitative estimates of the relative contribution of these indirect effects to total IONM effects on outcomes. CONCLUSIONS IONM is a complex intervention whose evaluation is more challenging than that of a simple intervention. Its implementation and largely indirect effects depend on specific settings that are usefully represented in causal graphs. SIGNIFICANCE IONM evaluation as a complex intervention aided by causal graphs and multivariable analysis could provide a valuable framework for future study design and assessments of IONM effectiveness in different settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert N Holdefer
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Christoph N Seubert
- Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Neuroanesthesiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Stanley A Skinner
- Intraoperative Monitoring, Department of Neurophysiology, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, 800 E 28th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55407, USA
| | - Andrew T Humbert
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mary E Edwards
- University of Florida Health Science Center Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - David B MacDonald
- Arkana Forum Medical Education Center, Im Hausgrün 29, 79312, Emmendingen, Germany
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