Potential neurological risk during a titanium rib procedure and appropriate intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring modalities.

Abstract

The titanium rib procedure is a safe and effective way of surgically treating pediatric patients with thoracic insufficiency syndrome and scoliosis. As with any invasive surgical procedure, it is not without risks. This article explains the potential risks to neurological structures while outlining the surgical approach and the neurological anatomy in the vicinity of the implanted instrumentation. The types of potential nerve injury involve ischemia, trauma, compression, and stretch. Furthermore, a suitable compilation of modalities of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring is recommended to detect and avoid long-term nerve or spinal cord insult. Monitoring modalities that would be appropriate for this procedure are discussed.