Neurological deterioration as a result of improper neck position detected by intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in a cervical stenosis patient

This case report discusses a patient with severe cervical stenosis who experienced neurological deterioration due to improper neck positioning during surgery. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) alerted the surgeons to the problem, allowing them to correct the neck position and prevent irreversible spinal cord injury. The study emphasizes the importance of using IONM throughout ACDF surgery, from neck positioning to suture incisions, especially in patients with severe cervical stenosis.

• 1
  Improper neck position during ACDF surgery can lead to transient neurological deterioration, detectable by IONM.
• 2
  IONM, specifically SSEP and MEP, can provide real-time feedback on spinal cord function and alert surgeons to potential SCI.
• 3
  Early detection and correction of improper neck position can prevent irreversible neurological damage.