Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is a general term that is used to describe testing and monitoring the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, during surgery. IONM can help the medical team know during surgery how the nervous system is working, which can make the surgery safer. It can help lower the risk of complications, such as loss of feeling or movement.
IONM is normally done by specially trained technicians, who stay with the patient during surgery. The technician monitor readings, and will notify the surgeon if anything is amiss. IONM can also help the surgeon locate specific nerves, or can let the surgeon know if hardware placed during surgery is affecting the nervous system.
Normally, the risk of complications of IONM are small. The IONM electrodes could cause infection or small burns. Pain can also be present at the electrode sites. Some more serious but rare complications include damage to a medical device, injury resulting from movement caused by nerve stimulation, heart arrhythmias, or the IONM being performed incorrectly. As a parent, it is your choice whether or not IONM is done during your child’s surgery. You should speak with your child’s surgeon about the benefits, risks, and alternatives of IONM.
If your child has already had surgery with IONM and has been harmed, you should speak with an attorney who has some experience in handling IONM malpractice cases. Call me, Conal Doyle IONM malpractice attorney, at 310-385-0567. We can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.