A Report on a New Surgical Technique in the Management of Herniated Thoracic Disc, the Transthoracic Anterior, Anterolateral, Lateral, Posterolateral and Posterior Approach.

Ahn, Myung Soo; Hong, Young Kil; Choi, Chang Rak; Park, Young Sup

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 1983;12(3): 401-406.

Myung Soo Ahn, Young Kil Hong, Chang Rak Choi, Young Sup Park

Department of Neurosurgery, St. Paul's Hospital, Catholic Medical College, Seoul, Korea.

ABSTRACT

Thoracic disc herniation is one of the spine disc herniations which has poor prognosis. It is rare in occurrence, as it is only about 0.15-1.7% of all spine disc herniations. Due to anatomical problems and degenerative processes occuring in the thoracic spine and spinal canal, pathophysiological problems and diagnostic difficulties are encountered. Several surgical techniques have been tried and modified but up to now no satisfactory surgical management had been reported. Recently the neurosurgical team, at the St. Paul's Hospital, encountered a patient with T7-8 disc herniation. After all diagnostic tests and examinations were done and the diagnosis verfied, a transthoracic anterior, anterolateral, lateral, posterolateral and posterior apporach was done with iliac bone graft microsurgical technique. The post-operative recovery was uneventful. As there was remarkable improvement during the clinical course as compared to the results done employing other surgical techniques, we wish to share with you our new experience.

Key Words: Transthoracic anterior; Anterolateral; Lateral; Posterolateral and Posterior approach; Thoracic disc; Surgical techniques