A systematic review with meta‑analysis of the diagnostic test accuracy of pedicle screw electrical stimulation

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Pedro Fonseca (Author) Other; Márcio Goethel (Author) Other; João Paulo Vilas-Boas (Author) FADEUP; Manuel Gutierres (Author) FMUP; Miguel Velhote Correia (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: European Spine Journal

Vol. 31 No. 7

Pages: 1599-1610

ISSN: 0940-6719

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

Scopus - 2 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Social sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-HVK

DOI: 10.1007/s00586-022-07218-7

Abstract (EN): Purpose To provide a systematic review with meta-analysis providing evidence of the current diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) of pedicle screw electrical stimulation. Methods A systematic database search on PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science was performed according to the PRISMA-DTA guidelines, and eligibility criteria applied to reduce the results to: (1) only journal articles reporting electrical stimulation of the pedicle screw head, (2) screw position confirmation by imaging techniques, and (3) enough information allowing the calculation of a 2 x 2 contingency table. Sample characteristics, image confirmation method, electrical current threshold and stimulation results were retrieved and analyzed using according to appropriate DTA analysis methods, and allowing the calculation of specificity, sensitivity for pedicle screws insertion at the lumbar and thoracic levels. Results Lumbar screw stimulation presents a higher sensitivity (0.586 [0.336, 0.798] and specificity (0.984 [0.958, 0.994]) than thoracic screws (sensitivity: 0.270 [0.096; 0.562]; specificity: 0.958 [0.931, 0.975]). The same is observed in terms of the diagnostic odds ratio for lumbar (88.32 [32.136, 242.962]) and thoracic (8.460 [2.139, 33.469]) levels. When performing a sub-group analysis, it is possible to divide the lumbar stimulation threshold as 8 and 10-12 mA, and the thoracic threshold as 6 and 9-12 mA. A threshold of 8 mA at the lumbar level provides higher sensitivity and specificity. Increasing the threshold results in higher specificity but not sensitivity. In fact, at the range of 10-12 mA, the diagnostic validity is too low to confer this technique any robust diagnostic validity. Similarly, at the thoracic level, lower threshold currents are associated with increased sensitivity, but their diagnostic validity is very low. Conclusion Electrical stimulation of the pedicle screw can be used as an adequate diagnostic capability at the lumbar level with a threshold of 8 mA. However, thoracic stimulation is currently not reliable, with very low sensitivity and diagnostic validity at 6 mA or higher.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12