Effects of Core Body Temperature on Changes in Spinal Somatosensory-Evoked Potential in Acute Spinal Cord Compression Injury
I-Ming Jou
Spine, 2000
Spinal cord injury was induced in rats by clip compression for two different intervals and at three different core temperatures. Spinal somatosensory-evoked potential was monitored immediately before and after compression, and at 15-minute intervals for 1 hour. Moderately hypothermic groups showed a significantly higher false-negative rate statistically (35%) than normothermic groups (10%). Systemic cooling may protect against the detrimental effects of aggressive spinal surgical procedures.