Electrophysiological monitoring during lipomyelomeningocele resection

Surgical resection of a lipomyelomeningocele carries a risk of injury to nerve roots in the cauda equina. We have devised a technique for combined spinal evoked potential and peripheral nerve compound action potential recording for intraoperative monitoring of this surgical procedure. We report the results of six cases where this technique was used. In each case, the monitoring prevented resection of viable neural tissue, and all six patients were neurologically unchanged postoperatively.