Thoracic disk herniation. Experience of 9 cases

A retrospective study was made of the clinical histories of 9 patients with thoracic disk herniation who were treated over an 11-year period (1985- 1996). In 5 patients the protrusion was located below T10. Spinal cord involvement was severe in 2 patients, moderate in 2 patients, and mild in 4 patients. A patient with severe spinal cord involvement refused surgery. The other 8 patients underwent surgery: 2 via costotransversectomy and 7 with an anterior transthoracic approach. A patient with severe spinal cord involvement showed neurological deterioration after costotransversectomy and did not improve with a second operation using an anterior approach. The other patients achieved excellent and good results, which were maintained in the review at 30 months. No peroperative or postoperative complications were recorded.