Determination of TOF Test Threshold for Obtaining Reliable Pedicle Screw Stimulation Test During Lumbar Spine Surgery

During lumbar spine fusion surgery intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is in routine use for prevention of possible nerve injuries during placement of screw into pedicle. Pedicle screw stimulation test is performed to assess if screw placement is encroaching on the nerve roots. Relative distance between the pedicle screw and the neighbouring root can be estimated by the intensity of the current required to activate the root and appropriate muscle. A properly placed screw can be distinguished from those perforating the pedicle wall by its higher minimum level of electrical current needed to elicit a muscle response. The minimum level is deemed as threshold. This test is based on compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) should be avoided because of possible cause of false negative results of screw stimulation test. Neuromuscular blocking agents, which are in routine use during anesthesia, will have effect on muscle action potential. When NMBA are used current stimulus will depolarize the same number of axons and the associated muscle response will be present but of lower amplitude because some percentage of motor fibers will be blocked by activity of NMBA. At this point, stronger stimulus is needed to recruit additional axons/muscle fibers , and hence, the measured threshold is elevated.

Train of four (TOF) test is method used to determine level of neuromuscular blockade, by stimulation of peripheral nerve and following induced muscle contractions. Interpretation of muscle contractions may be by subjective (visual) or objective (quantitative) method. Quantitative TOF test may be used prior screw stimulation test by calculating T4/T1 ratio and obtaining quantitative value which shows level of neuromuscular blockade. Residual neuromuscular blockade may be present before screw stimulation test, and effect on accuracy of this test in this situation was not clearly investigated in recent studies.

The purpose of this study would be to determine changes of screw stimulation thresholds under different range of neuromuscular blockade.Therefore, acceptable neuromuscular blockade threshold (determined by TOF test) acceptable for obtaining reliable screw stimulation test should be determined. Screw stimulation test may be performed when neuromuscular blockade is absent and compared to repeated screw stimulation test when neuromuscular blockade is present. Different levels of neuromuscular blockade may provide different results on screw stimulation test, so if difference is statistically significant, induced neuromuscular blockade level may be set as threshold value, acceptable for obtaining reliable testing results.

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Key information

Conditions

Neuromuscular Blockade

Age range

18 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

NYU Langone Medical Center, Hospital for Joint Diseases

New York, 10003, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Subjects undergoing lumbar spine fusion surgery with neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring when pedicle screw stimulation test is performed.
Subjects of both gender
Age 18-85
With diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis.
All subjects capable of giving informed consent in order to be included for the study.

Exclusion criteria

Subjects with medical history of presence of neuromuscular disease

Treatment and study plan

Rocuronium Bromide, Cisatracurium Besylate

Drug

Both Rocuronium Bromide and Cisatracurium Besylate are administered intravenously following induction of anesthesia initially by bolus, and subsequently re-bolused or administered in continuous infusion as clinically indicated to maintain muscle relaxation. Initial doses of Rocuronium range from 0.45 to 1.2 mg/kg IV, and doses for continuous infusion range from 0.01-0.012 mg/kg/min IV. Initial doses of Cisatracurium range from 0.15 to 0.2 mg/kg, and doses for continuous infusion range from 0.5 to 3 µg/kg/min. Following recovery and baseline screw stimulation at TOF >0.9, the dosing regimen for this study will rely on restarting a continuous infusion, and adjusting the infusion until the desired TOF ratios are reached. Following screw stimulations and data collection, the infusion will be terminated, and neuromuscular blockade allowed to recover.

Other names: Zemurone, Nimbex

Primary outcomes

Train of four (TOF) test

Time frame: TOF test measure will be performed during the day of surgery prior pedicle screw stimulation test

T4/T1 ratio will be determined and measured prior pedicle screw stimulation test, during lumbar spine surgery. Data will be obtained and followed from participants during one day, while surgery is performed.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

NYU Langone Health

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2015
Primary completion: 2018
Study completion: 2018
First posted: Nov 7, 2014
Registry last updated: Jan 18, 2018

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

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