Brainstem evoked potentials for scoliosis surgery: a reliable method allowing use of halogenated anesthetic agents.

A predictable and accurate method of monitoring cord function during scoliosis surgery using somatosensory brainstem evoked potentials (SBEP) is described. This method allows the use of halogenated anesthetic agents, which are ideal for neuromuscular patients, but easily disrupt traditional cortical monitoring. Fifty-eight children with idiopathic, neuromuscular, and syndrome related scoliosis were monitored with 51 true negative, one false negative, four true positive and two false positive results. The SBEP method is sensitive and effective for all types of scoliosis surgery, especially neuromuscular scoliosis.