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J Reconstr Microsurg 1995; 11(5): 357-362
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1006553
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1995 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Motor Evoked Potential as a Reliable Method to Verify the Conductivity of Anterior Spinal Roots in Brachial Plexus Surgery: An Experimental Study On Goats

Edvin Turkof, José Monsivais, Irina Dechtyar, Hanna Bellolo, Hanno Millesi, Norbert Mayr
  • Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental Plastic Surgery, Neurological University Clinic, and Clinic for Anesthesia and General Intensive Care Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria, and Hand and Microsurgical Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas
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Publication History

Accepted for publication 1995

Publication Date:
08 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The goal of this experimental study was to confirm the reliability of motor evoked potential (MEP) in testing the function of anterior motor roots in brachial plexus surgery. On central stimulation, nerve compound action potentials (NCAPs) are registered from the exposed spinal nerves. If NCAPs can be recorded, the anterior root is considered to be intact. Two factors might cause positive recordings even in the presence of an avulsed anterior motor root: volume conduction, and impulse transmission through an intact posterior root.

In five Nubian goats, spinal nerves C6, C7, and their corresponding spinal roots were dissected. On central stimulation, NCAPs were repeatedly recorded from the surface of all ten spinal nerves. Then, the anterior motor roots were transsected and central stimulation repeated. NCAPs disappeared irreversibly in all ten tested spinal nerves. The experiment showed that, on central stimulation, NCAPs cannot be recorded from spinal nerves unless the anterior root is intact.