抄録
In order to diagnose the level of nerve root injury, we intraoperatively recorded spinal evoked potentials (SpEP) in 13 cases of brachial plexus injury. The recording electrode, the catheter electrode was inserted into the epidural space the day before surgery. Nerve roots were stimulated directly after exposure. No response was obtained after stimulation in those damaged nerve roots having an abnormal myelogram or with abnormal macroscopic findings. There were 5 cases of nerve transplantation from the C5 root to the peripheral nerve. Good responses (amplitude 10μ V, 15μ V) were recorded in 2 cases from the epidural electrode after C5 root stimulation. Motor unit potentials in the muscle innervated by the C5 root appeared in these 2 cases after nerve transplantation. No response was recorded in 2 cases and a very small response in one case from the epidural electrode after C5 root stumulation. In these 3 cases motor unit potentials were not obtained.
It was concluded that intraoperative SpEP recordings are very useful in documenting functional continuity between spinal cord and nerve root in cases of brachial plexus injuty.
