Dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials in evaluation of lumbosacral spinal canal stenosis

Abstract EN

Objective : To evaluate Dermatomal Somatosensory evoked potentials (DSEPs) as an objective test for detection of sensory compromise and segmental affection of sensory roots in lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

Methodology : 25 patients with LSSS and candidate for decompressive surgery were recruited for the study.

They were diagnosed by clinical and radiological criteria.

10 healthy subjects were concluded as a control group.

SEPs and DSEPs were done preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively.

Results : There was a significant difference between patients and controls as regard DSEPs latencies (p < 0.05) while there was no significant difference between the two groups as regard DSEPs amplitudes.

There was statistically significant difference between preoperative and 3 month postoperative DSEPs latencies (p < 0.05).

There was statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative functional scores (p < 0.05).

Sensitivity of DSEPs was 92 %.

Conclusions : The results of this study showed that DSEPs is a sensitive test and complementary to the radiological investigations providing information about the electrophysiological function of lumbosacral roots and the level of root compression.

It is also non-invasive easy test.