The value of somatosensory and motor evoked potentials in pre-clinical spondylotic cervical cord compression
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 1999 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Neurology, neurosurgery, neurosciences |
| Keywords | Somatosensory evoked potentials;motor evoked potentials;pre-clinical cervical cord compression |
| Description | Study design. A two-year follow-up prospective electrophysiological and clinical study was performed in patients with clinically silent spondylotic cervical cord compression. Objective. To assess the value of somatosensory (SEP) and motor evoked potentials (MEP) in the evaluation and prediction of the clinical course. Summary of background data. Previous studies have yielded conflicting data concerning the value of evoked potential parameters in the assessment of clinical relevance of cervical cord compression in clinically silent cases. Methods. Thirty patients with magnetic resonance signs of spondylotic cervical cord compression but without clinical signs of myelopathy were evaluated clinically and using SEP and MEP during a 2-year period. Results. 1. SEPs and MEPs documented subclinical involvement of cervical cord in 50% of patients with clinically silent spondylotic cervical cord compression. 2. During a 2-year period clinical signs of cervical myelopathy was observed in one-third of patients with entry EP abnormality in comparison with no patient with normal EP tests. Conclusions. Combined SEPs and MEPs proved to be a valuable tool in the assessment of the functional relevancy of subclinical spondylotic cervical cord compression. Normal EP findings predict a favourable 2-year clinical outcome. |
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