Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! On (X network) By
The Feasibility and Utility of Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Cord Injury Patients: An International Survey of Ao Spine Members Publisher Pubmed



Neal CJ1 ; Hazenbiller O2 ; Hofstetter CP3 ; Aarabi B4 ; Harrop JS5 ; Fehlings MG6 ; Kurpad S7 ; Rahimimovaghar V8 ; Kwon BK9 ; Guest JD10
Authors
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Division of Neurosurgery, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, United States
  2. 2. Research Department, AO Spine, AO Foundation, Davos, Switzerland
  3. 3. Department of Neurological Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, Box 359766, Seattle, WA, United States
  4. 4. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
  5. 5. Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
  6. 6. Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  7. 7. Neuroscience Institute. Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Neurosurgery, Hub for Collaborative Medicine, Milwaukee, WI, United States
  8. 8. Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  9. 9. Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  10. 10. The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami, Lois Pope LIFE Center, 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Miller School of Medicine Miami, Miami, FL, United States

Source: Spinal Cord Published:2025


Abstract

Study design: Survey. Objectives: Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) is an emerging tool for assessing the injured spinal cord during surgical intervention and particularly after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). The extent of utilization of this technique is unknown. To assess whether a knowledge gap exists regarding IOUS in managing SCI patients, an international survey of spine surgeons was performed. Setting: International Survey. Methods: Members of the AO Spine international community were surveyed using a web-based questionnaire developed by an SCI expert commission. The categorical data were analyzed descriptively. Results: Of the 276 completed surveys, 22% (n = 61/276) indicated IOUS was utilized during spine surgery, with most responses coming from Europe (38% n = 24/61) and North America (30% n = 18/61). Only 41% (n = 25/61) had received formal IOUS training. There were 59% (n = 36/61) of respondents who indicated they use IOUS on patients with acute SCI, mainly to assess adequate decompression. Of those not using IOUS, 50% (n = 107/215) did not have access to an ultrasound machine available. Overall, 92% (n = 254/276) indicated that an IOUS training course would be beneficial to improve understanding and patient care. Conclusions: This international survey of spine surgeons demonstrated that currently, there is limited use of IOUS in the surgical management of acute SCI. Understanding the needs of spine surgeons and tailoring educational opportunities may increase the role of IOUS. Given the importance of surgical decompression in enhancing outcomes after acute SCI coupled with the ability of IOUS to assess decompression, greater adoption of IOUS could further enhance the efficacy of decompressive surgery. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Spinal Cord Society 2025.
Related Docs
1. A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Recommendations on Hemodynamic Management, Global Spine Journal (2024)
2. An Update of a Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Recommendations on the Role and Timing of Decompressive Surgery, Global Spine Journal (2024)
3. Interventions to Optimize Spinal Cord Perfusion in Patients With Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: An Updated Systematic Review, Global Spine Journal (2024)
4. Bizhan Aarabi and Knowledge Development in Neurotrauma, Archives of Iranian Medicine (2021)
5. Timing of Decompressive Surgery in Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Systematic Review Update, Global Spine Journal (2024)
6. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Early Versus Late Surgical Decompression for Thoracic and Thoracolumbar Spinal Cord Injury in 73 Patients, Neurotrauma Reports (2020)
7. Clinical Neurorestorative Therapeutic Guidelines for Spinal Cord Injury (Ianr/Canr Version 2019), Journal of Orthopaedic Translation (2020)
Experts (# of related papers)
View all Related Experts
Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar (4)
Ahmad Pourrashidi (1)