A multicenter survey of 153 US Scoliosis Research Society surgeons covering 51,263 SEP-monitored spinal cases. The study asks whether intraoperative SEP monitoring experience independently reduces neurologic complications during scoliosis surgery, and which technical and surgeon-level factors predict outcomes.
When a scoliosis case is on your schedule, the quality of the neuromonitoring team matters as much as the implants you choose. This paper established, in 51,263 cases, that experienced SEP teams (300+ cases) cut neurologic deficit rates by more than half compared to inexperienced teams — and that this effect is independent of the surgeon's own experience.
Practically: if SEPs remain stable throughout the case, you can be highly reassured. The false-negative rate is 0.063% and the negative predictive value is 99.93%. If SEPs alarm, treat it seriously but know the positive predictive value is only 42%; intervene, reassess, and do not panic prematurely.
The pre-monitoring MacEwen survey (1967-1971) showed far higher rates of persistent and major deficits. The dramatic drop seen here is why intraoperative neuromonitoring became standard of care for deformity surgery.
A multicenter survey of 153 US Scoliosis Research Society surgeons covering 51,263 SEP-monitored spinal cases. The study asks whether intraoperative SEP monitoring experience independently reduces neurologic complications during scoliosis surgery, and which technical and surgeon-level factors predict outcomes.
When a scoliosis case is on your schedule, the quality of the neuromonitoring team matters as much as the implants you choose. This paper established, in 51,263 cases, that experienced SEP teams (300+ cases) cut neurologic deficit rates by more than half compared to inexperienced teams — and that this effect is independent of the surgeon's own experience.
Practically: if SEPs remain stable throughout the case, you can be highly reassured. The false-negative rate is 0.063% and the negative predictive value is 99.93%. If SEPs alarm, treat it seriously but know the positive predictive value is only 42%; intervene, reassess, and do not panic prematurely.
The pre-monitoring MacEwen survey (1967-1971) showed far higher rates of persistent and major deficits. The dramatic drop seen here is why intraoperative neuromonitoring became standard of care for deformity surgery.