WHAT IS INTRAOPERATIVE NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING?

Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM) is a technique that is directly aimed at reducing the risk of neurological deficits after operations that involve the nervous system. IONM is a technique that has evolved during the last two decades; it makes use of recordings of electrical potentials from the nervous system during surgical operations.  The use of IONM offers a possibility to detect injuries before they become so severe they cause deficits after the operation. Introduction of IONM has reduced the risk of debilitating deficits such as muscle weakness, paralysis, hearing loss, and other loss of normal body functions. IONM is normally performed by technologists supervised by a physiologist, or a neurologist.