Neal Chris J, Hazenbiller Olesja, Hofstetter Christoph P, Aarabi Bizhan, Harrop James S, Fehlings Michael G, Kurpad Shekar, Rahimi-Movaghar Vafa, Kwon Brian K, Guest James D
Division of Neurosurgery, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA.
Research Department, AO Spine, AO Foundation, Davos, Switzerland.
Spinal Cord. 2025 May;63(5):252-256. doi: 10.1038/s41393-025-01072-2. Epub 2025 Mar 25.
Survey.
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.
International Survey.
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.
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.
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.
调查。
术中超声（IOUS）是一种新兴工具，用于在手术干预期间，尤其是在创伤性脊髓损伤（SCI）后评估受损脊髓。该技术的使用范围尚不清楚。为了评估在管理SCI患者方面是否存在关于IOUS的知识差距，对脊柱外科医生进行了一项国际调查。
国际调查。
使用由SCI专家委员会制定的基于网络的问卷对AO脊柱国际协会的成员进行调查。对分类数据进行描述性分析。
在276份完成的调查问卷中，22%（n = 61/276）表示在脊柱手术中使用了IOUS，大多数回复来自欧洲（38%，n = 24/61）和北美（30%，n = 18/61）。只有41%（n = 25/61）接受过正式的IOUS培训。59%（n = 36/61）的受访者表示他们在急性SCI患者中使用IOUS，主要是为了评估减压是否充分。在未使用IOUS的受访者中，50%（n = 107/215）无法使用超声设备。总体而言，92%（n = 254/276）表示IOUS培训课程将有助于提高认识和改善患者护理。
这项对脊柱外科医生的国际调查表明，目前IOUS在急性SCI的手术管理中的使用有限。了解脊柱外科医生的需求并量身定制教育机会可能会增加IOUS的作用。鉴于手术减压在改善急性SCI后结局方面的重要性，以及IOUS评估减压的能力，更广泛地采用IOUS可以进一步提高减压手术的疗效。
