Neurophysiology
Intraoperative neurophysiology uses a wide variety of electrophysiologic methods to analyze and interpret the state of the nervous system during real-time in a clinical/operating room setting. The information provided helps a surgeon to fully understand both the physiology and pathophysiology of the disorders of their patients and the benefit or detriment of their surgical technique which puts neural structures at risk for loss of function. The applications of clinical intraoperative neurophysiology include orthopedic, vascular, otaryngology, neurology and nervous system monitoring. Critical structures in eloquent cortex, the brain stem and spinal cord can be identified, monitored and preserved and thereby have the risk of damage greatly reduced.