• Linda Helenius, Antti Puhakka, Tuula Manner, Olli Pajulo, and Ilkka Helenius.
• Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive care, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 21520, Turku, Finland. linda.helenius@tyks.fi.
• Eur Spine J. 2018 Feb 1; 27 (2): 298-304.

PurposeThis study was designed to evaluate the effect of preoperative pregabalin on intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in adolescents undergoing surgery for spinal deformities.MethodsThirty-one adolescents undergoing posterior spinal fusion were randomized to receive preoperatively either pregabalin 2 mg/kg twice daily or placebo. The ability to make reliable intraoperative neurophysiological measurements, transcranial motor (MEPs) and sensory evoked potentials (SSEP) was evaluated.ResultsTwo patients (pregabalin group) did not fulfil the inclusion criteria and one patient's (placebo group) spinal monitoring was technically incomplete and these were excluded from the final data. In the rest, spinal cord monitoring was successful. Anaesthesia prolonged the latency of MEPs and increased the threshold current of MEP. The current required to elicit MEPs did not differ between the study groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the study groups regarding the latency of bilateral SSEP (N32 and P37) and MEP latencies at any time point.ConclusionsPreoperative pregabalin does not interfere spinal cord monitoring in adolescents undergoing posterior spinal fusion.Level Of EvidenceI.

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