OBJECTIVE: to compare the number of events with alteration in the somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) and its repercussion between different techniques of surgical treatment for idiopathic scoliosis, with and without sublaminar wiring. METHODS: twenty-five surgical procedures with flexible curves for treatment of idiopathic scoliosis were reviewed in the period of November 1996 to September 1999. They were divided into two groups: without sublaminar wiring (Cotrel-Dubousset's system) (Group I); and with sublaminar wiring (Harrington-Luque's system and rectangle of Hartshill) (Group II). In all surgeries, the intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring with Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEPs) was used. RESULTS: according to the findings, a bigger frequency of monitoring changes was observed during and at the end of the surgery in Group II. A high incidence of false-negative changes was also verified. No patient with neurological damages was observed. CONCLUSION: There are still doubts about the safest method for the surgical treatment of idiopathic scoliosis. The results presented in this study suggest a smaller incidence of SSEPs changes in the patients treated with Cotrel-Dubousset's system.
Scoliosis; Evoked potentials; somatosensory; Surgical procedures; operative; Orthopedic fixation devices
