Clonidine administration during intraoperative monitoring for pediatric scoliosis surgery: Effects on central and peripheral motor responses

This is the first report showing that clonidine severely interferes with neuromonitoring of the spinal cord motor pathways. The results are discussed in light of the literature describing the effects of dexmedetomidine, another α-2 adrenergic agonist. The experimental and literature data point to central mechanisms taking place at both the spinal and cerebral levels. Therefore, clonidine as well as other α-2 adrenergic agonists should be used with extreme caution in patients for whom neuromonitoring of the motor pathways is required during surgery.