Advanced electrophysiological recording techniques can assess sensory function from individual spinal segments and track the potential risks or benefits of a therapeutic intervention. Dermatomal somatosensory-evoked potentials (dSSEPs) and contact heat-evoked potentials (CHEPs) have been introduced as distinct assessment tools; when combined with other clinical sensory evaluations, these tools can provide sensitive and reliable functional measurements of spinal connectivity. dSSEPs measure innocuous tactile inputs via dorsal column pathways from individual spinal segments. Conversely, CHEPs evaluate thermal (e.g., nociceptive) inputs via spinothalamic pathways arising from each spinal segment.
Ramer LM, Ramer MS, Steeves JD. Setting the stage for functional repair of spinal cord injuries: A cast of thousands. Spinal Cord. 2005;43:134–161.
,
Setting the stage for functional repair of spinal cord injuries: A cast of thousands
, Spinal Cord
, vol. 43
(pg. 134
-161
) Lammertse D, Tuszynski MH, Steeves JD, et al. Guidelines for the conduct of clinical trials for spinal cord injury as developed by the ICCP Panel: Clinical trial design. Spinal Cord. 2007;45:232–242.
,
Guidelines for the conduct of clinical trials for spinal cord injury as developed by the ICCP Panel: Clinical trial design
, Spinal Cord
, vol. 45
(pg. 232
-242
) Steeves JD, Lammertse D, Curt A, et al. Guidelines for the conduct of clinical trials for spinal cord injury (SCI) as developed by the ICCP Panel: Clinical trial outcome measures. Spinal Cord. 2007;45:206–221.
,
Guidelines for the conduct of clinical trials for spinal cord injury (SCI) as developed by the ICCP Panel: Clinical trial outcome measures
, Spinal Cord
, vol. 45
(pg. 206
-221
) Marino RJ, Jones L, Kirshblum S, et al. Reliability and repeatability of the motor and sensory examination of the international standards for neurological classification of spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med. 2008;31:166–170.
,
Reliability and repeatability of the motor and sensory examination of the international standards for neurological classification of spinal cord injury
, J Spinal Cord Med.
, vol. 31
(pg. 166
-170
) Savic G, Bergstrom EM, Frankel HL, et al. Inter-rater reliability of motor and sensory examinations performed according to American Spinal Injury Association standards. Spinal Cord. 2007;45:444–451.
,
Inter-rater reliability of motor and sensory examinations performed according to American Spinal Injury Association standards
, Spinal Cord
, vol. 45
(pg. 444
-451
) Baptiste DC, Fehlings MG. Pharmacological approaches to repair the injured spinal cord. J Neurotrauma. 2006;23:318–334.
,
Pharmacological approaches to repair the injured spinal cord
, J Neurotrauma
, vol. 23
(pg. 318
-334
) Fawcett JW, Curt A, Steeves JD, et al. Guidelines for the conduct of clinical trials for spinal cord injury as developed by the ICCP Panel: Spontaneous recovery after spinal cord injury and statistical power needed for therapeutic clinical trials. Spinal Cord. 2007;45:190–205.
,
Guidelines for the conduct of clinical trials for spinal cord injury as developed by the ICCP Panel: Spontaneous recovery after spinal cord injury and statistical power needed for therapeutic clinical trials
, Spinal Cord
, vol. 45
(pg. 190
-205
) Mackay-Sim A, Feron F, Cochrane J, et al. Autologous olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation in human paraplegia: A 3-year clinical trial. Brain. 2008;131:2376–2386.
,
Autologous olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation in human paraplegia: A 3-year clinical trial
, Brain
, vol. 131
(pg. 2376
-2386
) Larkman DJ, Atkinson D, Hajnal JV. Artifact reduction using parallel imaging methods. Top Magn Reson Imaging. 2004;15:267–275.
,
Artifact reduction using parallel imaging methods
, Top Magn Reson Imaging
, vol. 15
(pg. 267
-275
) Harel NY, Strittmatter SM. Functional MRI and other non-invasive imaging technologies: Providing visual biomarkers for spinal cord structure and function after injury. Exp Neurol. 2008;211:324–328.
,
Functional MRI and other non-invasive imaging technologies: Providing visual biomarkers for spinal cord structure and function after injury
, Exp Neurol
, vol. 211
(pg. 324
-328
) Dietz V, Curt A. Neurological aspects of spinalcord repair: Promises and challenges. Lancet Neurol. 2006;5:688–694.
,
Neurological aspects of spinalcord repair: Promises and challenges
, Lancet Neurol
, vol. 5
(pg. 688
-694
) Curt A, Dietz V. Electrophysiological recordings in patients with spinal cord injury: Significance for predicting outcome. Spinal Cord. 1999;37:157–165.
,
Electrophysiological recordings in patients with spinal cord injury: Significance for predicting outcome
, Spinal Cord
, vol. 37
(pg. 157
-165
) Rutz S, Dietz V, Curt A. Diagnostic and prognostic value of compound motor action potential of lower limbs in acute paraplegic patients. Spinal Cord. 2000;38:203–210.
,
Diagnostic and prognostic value of compound motor action potential of lower limbs in acute paraplegic patients
, Spinal Cord
, vol. 38
(pg. 203
-210
) Iseli E, Cavigelli A, Dietz V, et al. Prognosis and recovery in ischaemic and traumatic spinal cord injury: Clinical and electrophysiological evaluation. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1999;67:567–571.
,
Prognosis and recovery in ischaemic and traumatic spinal cord injury: Clinical and electrophysiological evaluation
, J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
, vol. 67
(pg. 567
-571
) Dietz V, Wirz M, Colombo G, et al. Locomotor capacity and recovery of spinal cord function in paraplegic patients: A clinical and electrophysiological evaluation. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1998;109:140–153.
,
Locomotor capacity and recovery of spinal cord function in paraplegic patients: A clinical and electrophysiological evaluation
, Electroencephalogr Clin NeuroPhysiol.
, vol. 109
(pg. 140
-153
) Curt A, Keck ME, Dietz V. Functional outcome following spinal cord injury: Significance of motor-evoked potentials and ASIA scores. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998;79:81–86.
,
Functional outcome following spinal cord injury: Significance of motor-evoked potentials and ASIA scores
, Arch Phys Med Rehabil.
, vol. 79
(pg. 81
-86
) Curt A, Rodic B, Schurch B, et al. Recovery of bladder function in patients with acute spinal cord injury: Significance of ASIA scores and somatosensory evoked potentials. Spinal Cord. 1997;35:368–373.
,
Recovery of bladder function in patients with acute spinal cord injury: Significance of ASIA scores and somatosensory evoked potentials
, Spinal Cord
, vol. 35
(pg. 368
-373
) Curt A, Dietz V. Ambulatory capacity in spinal cord injury: Significance of somatosensory evoked potentials and ASIA protocol in predicting outcome. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1997;78:39–43.
,
Ambulatory capacity in spinal cord injury: Significance of somatosensory evoked potentials and ASIA protocol in predicting outcome
, Arch Phys Med Rehabil.
, vol. 78
(pg. 39
-43
) Curt A, Weinhardt C, Dietz V. Significance of sympathetic skin response in the assessment of autonomic failure in patients with spinal cord injury. J Auton Nerv Syst. 1996;61:175–180.
,
Significance of sympathetic skin response in the assessment of autonomic failure in patients with spinal cord injury
, J Auton Nerv Syst.
, vol. 61
(pg. 175
-180
) Curt A, Dietz V. Traumatic cervical spinal cord injury: Relation between somatosensory evoked potentials, neurological deficit, and hand function. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1996;77:48–53.
,
Traumatic cervical spinal cord injury: Relation between somatosensory evoked potentials, neurological deficit, and hand function
, Arch Phys Med Rehabil.
, vol. 77
(pg. 48
-53
) Cafferty WB, McGee AW, Strittmatter SM. Axonal growth therapeutics: Regeneration or sprouting or plasticity? Trends Neurosci. 2008;31:215–220.
,
Strittmatter SM. Axonal growth therapeutics: Regeneration or sprouting or plasticity?
, Trends Neurosci
, vol. 31
(pg. 215
-220
) Curt A, van Hedel HJ, Klaus D, et al. Recovery from a spinal cord injury: Significance of compensation, neural plasticity, and repair. J Neurotrauma. 2008;25:677–685.
,
Recovery from a spinal cord injury: Significance of compensation, neural plasticity, and repair
, J Neurotrauma
, vol. 25
(pg. 677
-685
) Fisher CG, Noonan VK, Smith DE, et al. Motor recovery, functional status, and health-related quality of life in patients with complete spinal cord injuries. Spine. 2005;30:2200–2207.
,
Motor recovery, functional status, and health-related quality of life in patients with complete spinal cord injuries
, Spine
, vol. 30
(pg. 2200
-2207
) Spiess M, Schubert M, Kliesch U, et al. Evolution of tibial SSEP after traumatic spinal cord injury: Baseline for clinical trials. Clin Neurophysiol. 2008;119:1051–1061.
,
Evolution of tibial SSEP after traumatic spinal cord injury: Baseline for clinical trials
, Clin NeuroPhysiol.
, vol. 119
(pg. 1051
-1061
) Katz RT, Toleikis RJ, Knuth AE. Somatosensoryevoked and dermatomal-evoked potentials are not clinically useful in the prognostication of acute spinal cord injury. Spine. 1991;16:730–735.
,
Somatosensoryevoked and dermatomal-evoked potentials are not clinically useful in the prognostication of acute spinal cord injury
, Spine
, vol. 16
(pg. 730
-735
) Shields CB, Ping ZY, Shields LB, et al. Objective assessment of cervical spinal cord injury levels by transcranial magnetic motor-evoked potentials. Surg Neurol. 2006;66:475–483.
,
Objective assessment of cervical spinal cord injury levels by transcranial magnetic motor-evoked potentials
, Surg Neurol
, vol. 66
(pg. 475
-483
) Kramer JL, Moss AJ, Taylor P, et al. Assessment of posterior spinal cord function with electrical perception threshold in spinal cord injury. J Neurotrauma. 2008;25:1019–1026.
,
Assessment of posterior spinal cord function with electrical perception threshold in spinal cord injury
, J Neurotrauma
, vol. 25
(pg. 1019
-1026
) Joshi M, Fehlings MG. Development and characterization of a novel, graded model of clip compressive spinal cord injury in the mouse: Part 1. Clip design, behavioral outcomes, and histopathology. J Neurotrauma. 2002;19:175–190.
,
Development and characterization of a novel, graded model of clip compressive spinal cord injury in the mouse: Part 1. Clip design, behavioral outcomes, and histopathology
, J Neurotrauma
, vol. 19
(pg. 175
-190
) McKinley W, Santos K, Meade M, et al. Incidence and outcomes of spinal cord injury clinical syndromes. J Spinal Cord Med. 2007;30:215–224.
,
Incidence and outcomes of spinal cord injury clinical syndromes
, J Spinal Cord Med.
, vol. 30
(pg. 215
-224
) Nicotra A, Ellaway PH. Thermal perception thresholds: Assessing the level of human spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 2006;44:617–624.
,
Thermal perception thresholds: Assessing the level of human spinal cord injury
, Spinal Cord
, vol. 44
(pg. 617
-624
) Treede RD, Lorenz J, Baumgartner U. Clinical usefulness of laser-evoked potentials. Neurophysiol Clin. 2003;33:303–314.
,
Clinical usefulness of laser-evoked potentials
, Neurophysiol Clin
, vol. 33
(pg. 303
-314
) Chen AC, Niddam DM, Arendt-Nielsen L. Contact heat evoked potentials as a valid means to study nociceptive pathways in human subjects. Neurosci Lett. 2001;316:79–82.
,
Contact heat evoked potentials as a valid means to study nociceptive pathways in human subjects
, Neurosci Lett
, vol. 316
(pg. 79
-82
) Granovsky Y, Granot M, Nir RR, et al. Objective correlate of subjective pain perception by contact heat-evoked potentials. J Pain. 2008;9:53–63.
,
Objective correlate of subjective pain perception by contact heat-evoked potentials
, J Pain
, vol. 9
(pg. 53
-63
) Iannetti GD, Zambreanu L, Tracey I. Similar nociceptive afferents mediate psychophysical and electrophysiological responses to heat stimulation of glabrous and hairy skin in humans. J Physiol. 2006;577:235–248.
,
Similar nociceptive afferents mediate psychophysical and electrophysiological responses to heat stimulation of glabrous and hairy skin in humans
, J Physiol.
, vol. 577
(pg. 235
-248
) Wydenkeller S, Wirz R, Halder P. Spinothalamic tract conduction velocity estimated using contact heat evoked potentials: What needs to be considered. Clin Neurophysiol. 2008;119:812–821.
,
Spinothalamic tract conduction velocity estimated using contact heat evoked potentials: What needs to be considered
, Clin NeuroPhysiol.
, vol. 119
(pg. 812
-821
)
This content is only available as a PDF.