Technical modifications and decision-making to reduce morbidity in thoracic disc surgery: An institutional experience and treatment algorithm

• Published in: Clinical neurology and neurosurgery Vol. 133; pp. 75 - 82
• Main Authors: Strom, Russell G, Mathur, Vin, Givans, Heather, Kondziolka, Douglas S, Perin, Noel I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-06-2015; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Calcification; Clinical Decision-Making - methods; Complication avoidance; Decision making; Decompression, Surgical - adverse effects; Decompression, Surgical - methods; Dissection; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Intervertebral Disc Displacement; Male; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Minimally invasive surgery; Morbidity; Neurology; Neurosurgery; Orthopedic Procedures - adverse effects; Orthopedic Procedures - methods; Ostomy; Patients; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Retrospective Studies; Spinal Fusion - adverse effects; Spinal Fusion - methods; Surgery; Thoracic disc herniation; Thoracic Vertebrae; Thoracoscopy; Thoracoscopy - adverse effects; Thoracoscopy - instrumentation; Thoracoscopy - methods; Treatment Outcome; Tubular retractor; Minimally invasive surgery; Thoracic disc herniation; Complication avoidance; Tubular retractor; Thoracoscopy
• ISSN: 0303-8467; 1872-6968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2015.03.014

Highlights • Thoracic disc herniation is a rare condition with significant treatment risks. • We review our complications the past decade as approach and technique have evolved. • Several strategies were effective at preventing and managing complications. • Tubular retractors facilitated safe dissection with low access-related morbidity. • Thoracoscopy protected the lung and great vessels during retractor placement.