Mini-open transthoracic approach for resection of a calcified herniated thoracic disc and repair of the dural surface with fibrin glue: a case report

Transdural circumferential decompression for thoracic spinal stenosis caused by beak-type ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a technical note

PURPOSE

Thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the thoracic spine is usually progressive and responds poorly to conservative therapy, making surgery the only effective treatment option. A variety of surgical procedures have been developed to treat thoracic OPLL. However, the optimal surgical approach for removal of thoracic OPLL remains unclear. In the present study, we described a newly modified posterior approach for the removal of OPLL: circular decompression via dural approach, and complete removal of OPLL can be achieved under direct vision and without neurological deficit.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three patients with beak-type thoracic OPLL presented with progressive thoracic myelopathy and leg weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the spinal cord severely compressed. The surgical management of the three patients involved the 'cave-in' circular decompression and transdural resection of OPLL.

RESULTS

Transdural circumferential decompression was successfully performed in all three patients. Clinical outcome measures, including pre- and postoperative radiographic parameters, were assessed. All of the patients were followed up for an average of 12 months (ranging from 10 to 15 months), and no surgery-related complications occurred. Weakness relief and neural function recovery were satisfactorily achieved in all patients by the final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Transdural circumferential decompression was an effective method for thoracic spinal stenosis caused by concurrent beak-type OPLL, by which OPLL could be safely removed. It is especially useful when there is a severe adhesion between the dura OPLL.

Radiographic and clinical features of thoracic disk disease associated with myelopathy: a retrospective analysis of 257 cases

PURPOSE

To analyze the clinical and radiographic characteristics of thoracic disk disease associated with myelopathy (TDM).

METHODS

This is a retrospective clinical review of prospectively collected imaging data based at a single institute. Based on preoperative CT and MRI, we classified TDM as thoracic disk herniation (TDH), THD with ossification (THDO), TDH with posterior bony avulsions of the vertebrae (TDH with PBA), TDH with posterior vertebral osteophytes (TDH with PVO), giant thoracic osteophyte and calcific discitis with herniation (CDH). Patient characteristics and radiographic data were compared between different types of TDM.

RESULTS

Among the 257 patients included, 12.06% of patients presented with symptoms after traumatic events. The most frequent complaint at onset and preoperative was back pain (29.2%) and subjective lower limb weakness (75.5%), respectively. All TDH with PBA is distributed at the lower thoracic segments, while CDH predominantly in the middle and lower thoracic segments. TDH with PBA was more frequent in men than TDH and CDH. Compared with TDH, TDHO, and TDH with PVO, TDH with PBA was younger in surgery age, and TDH and CDH had lower preoperative JOA scores than TDH with PBA. CDH had a larger ventral occupying ratio than TDH, TDHO, and TDH with PBA.

CONCLUSIONS

The onset of TDM was generally insidious but may be triggered acutely by apparently trivial events. With a low prevalence, TDM varied clinical symptoms. Different types of TDM had various clinical features, which might indicate different pathological mechanisms.

Modified eggshell procedure via posterior approach for sclerosing thoracic disc herniation: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND

Clinically, sclerosing thoracic disc herniation is a disease with high surgical risk and various complications. Eggshell procedure is a surgical method used by surgeons to treat sclerosing thoracic disc herniation. The aim of this study was to report a modified eggshell procedure to treat sclerosing thoracic disc herniation.

METHODS

Medical records of 25 patients with sclerosing thoracic disc herniation were collected between 2007/01 and 2010/08, including 14 males and 11 females, with an average age of 51.7 years old. Modified eggshell procedure was performed to treat the patients with sclerosing thoracic disc herniation. All patients were followed up. Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was used to evaluate the clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

All operations were performed successfully with complication rate of 12 %. There were 2 cases of dural laceration and 1 subdural hematoma. All included patients were followed up for at least 5 years, with the median of 6 years. JOA score of preoperation was 5 (IQR = 1) while it was 8 (IQR = 2) at final follow-up, with significant difference (Mann-Whitney U test, Z = -4.891, P < 0.001). The improvement rate of neurological status was 51.5 ± 23.1 %. According to the classification of improvement rate, there were 15 cases at good level, 8 cases at moderate level, and 2 cases without any improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Modified eggshell procedure is a safe and effective surgical method when performed to treat sclerosing thoracic disc herniation in the clinical practice.