Transthoracic disc excision with interbody fusion

Thoracic disc herniation is a rare and slowly progressing disease, commonest at the lower thoracic spine. We performed transthoracic discectomy and interbody fusion in 12 patients with an average age of 46 years suffering from symptomatic herniated thoracic disc. Pain and neurologic impairment were the commonest symptoms at admission. The outcome at a mean follow-up of 4 (2-8) years concerning pain were excellent or good in 10 patients, fair in 1 and unchanged in 1 patient. There were no approach-related complications. All 7 patients with incomplete neurologic impairment preoperatively improved postoperatively at least 1 Frankel grade. Posterior complementary fusion at the thoracolumbar junction was necessary in 2 patients because of increasing symptomatic local kyphosis. Although the number of patients is small, due to the rarity of the disease, it seems that the transthoracic approach for anterior discectomy and fusion is an appropriate treatment for symptomatic thoracic disc herniation. Proper patient selection, preoperative planning and surgical technique resulted in good pain relief, neurologic recovery in cases associated with incomplete neurologic impairment and restoration of the sagittal profile of the thoracolumbar spine.