Use of transcranial motor-evoked potentials to provide reliable intraoperative neuromonitoring for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth population undergoing spine deformity surgery

Use of transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEPs) in spine deformity surgery in a case of Charcot-Marie-tooth disease-what we should know? A case report

INTRODUCTION

Charcot Marie tooth disease (CMTD) is also known as Hereditary sensory motor neuropathy. It poses difficulties in attaining intra-operative neuromonitoring signals for deformity correction surgery. In this case report, we intent to mention key points for obtaining good neuromonitoring signals in these cases which increases the safety in scoliosis surgery.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a 14-year-old boy, known case of CMTD, presented with progressive deformity of the back. The child was wheelchair-bound and could walk only a few steps with support. He was unable to maintain a sitting balance without using upper limbs making him functionally quadriparatic. The radiographs showed a double scoliotic curve with costo-pelvic impingement. At the onset, no signals were obtained with routine intra-operative neuromonitoring settings.

DISCUSSION

Increasing the sweep length and voltage in our neuro-monitors helped in acquiring the baseline signals and we went ahead to proceed the deformity correction.

Application of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) for Preventing Dysphagia After Anterior Cervical Surgery: A Prospective Study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical value of intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) for dysphagia after anterior cervical surgery with and without IONM.

METHODS

A prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted on 46 patients who underwent anterior cervical spine surgery by an experienced orthopaedic surgeon. Twenty-three patients who underwent anterior cervical surgery did not undergo IONM (non-IONM group), while the other 23 patients who underwent anterior cervical surgery did ("IONM group"). The swallowing function of patients was evaluated using the EAT-10 and endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) after surgery.

RESULTS

There was no difference in the incidence of swallowing difficulties between the intervention group and the control group on the third day or sixth week after surgery. At the 12th week after surgery, the incidence of swallowing difficulties in the intervention group and the control group was significantly different (43.5% vs. 13.0%, P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

IONM is a promising tool for identifying and protecting the spinal cord and nerves during anterior cervical surgery. Our research revealed that IONM significantly reduced the occurrence of swallowing disorders 12 weeks after surgery, but the effect was not significant at the third or sixth week after surgery.