Work

Somatosensory evoked potentials recorded from the scalp in spinal cord injury: A scoping review of methodological approaches and findings

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Objective: Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) are objective neurophysiological measures of sensory pathway integrity that may serve as biomarkers of neurological recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). This scoping review synthesized SSEP methodologies used in SCI research to identify methodological gaps, support protocol harmonization, and facilitate their integration into personalized rehabilitation. Methods: MEDLINE, EBM Reviews and EMBASE were searched using terms related to SCI, peripheral nerve stimulation, and evoked potentials. Extracted data included study design, participant characteristics, stimulation and recording parameters, and primary SSEP outcomes. The review followed Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Results: Seventy studies published between 1964 and 2023 met the inclusion criteria. SSEPs were most commonly recorded from the contralateral somatosensory cortex, with N20 and P40 components used as primary outcomes for upper- and lower-limb stimulation, respectively. Considerable heterogeneity was observed in stimulation intensity determination, pulse width (0.1-0.5 ms), stimulation frequency (0.5-7 Hz), electrode montage, filtering, and sampling rate. Complete SCI was frequently associated with absent SSEPs, whereas incomplete injuries showed prolonged latency and/or reduced amplitude. Conclusions: Despite methodological heterogeneity, SSEPs have been used to assess sensory pathway integrity and monitor recovery after SCI. Greater standardization of acquisition and reporting protocols is needed to improve comparability across studies and facilitate clinical translation. Significance: This review maps how the literature has used SSEPs to assess sensory pathway integrity and monitor recovery after SCI, while highlighting the need for standardized acquisition and reporting practices to improve comparability and support future clinical research.

Source: Clinical Neurophysiology Practice

DOI: 10.1016/j.cnp.2026.10.008

Authors: Alain Patrick Ishimwe, Hassan Khajehpour, Victoria Duda, Dorothy Barthélemy

Institutions: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, Concordia University

Language: English

Topic: Spinal Cord Injury Research

Subfield: Clinical Neurology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,530