My Spine - Cervical
Spinal nerve monitoring
In some procedures and especially in scoliosis surgery, this technology may
be used. Scoliosis is where the spine is bent and has to be straightened with
rods and screws. This may place the nerves under stress and this system will
warn the specialist if the nerves are being compromised and will allow the
specialist to modify the procedure to be able to protect the nerves. There are,
however, definite technical challenges to this technology at this stage.
euro-navigation
Some specialists use a computer that helps them identify the different struc-
tures and is useful in placing screws in the correct position away from the
fragile nerves. These computers use a system of known reference points to
calculate where the specialist’s instrument is in relation to the tissue.
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