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Minimally Invasive Thoracic Microendoscopic Discectomy

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Minimally Invasive Surgery in Orthopedics

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Abstract

Thoracic disc herniations present the spine surgeon with a distinctive set of challenges with regard to patient selection, surgical anatomy, and potential complications. The reported incidences of thoracic disc herniations range from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,000,000 [1–3] and are decreased in comparison with those of their cervical and lumbar counterparts; this is likely a result of the increased rigidity of the thoracic cage, which results in a reduction in the flexion, extension, and rotation of the thoracic spine [4, 5]. Notwithstanding this decreased incidence and the even smaller number of patients who ultimately require surgical intervention, patients with thoracic disc herniations may present with a wide variety of symptoms. Furthermore, a multitude of surgical approaches have been developed to treat these patients, including posterior (laminectomy), posterolateral (costotransversectomy, transfacet pedicle-sparing discectomy, transpedicular discectomy, and transversoartropediculectomy), lateral (extracavitary, rachiotomy), transthoracic (transpleural, extrapleural, and transsternal), and thoracoscopic approaches. This wide spectrum of therapeutic options, coupled with the relatively low incidence of operable pathologies, is a testament to the difficulty a spine surgeon faces when attempting to treat patients with thoracic disc herniations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA

    R. David Fessler

  2. St. Louis Minimally Invasive Spine Center, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Kurt M. Eichholz

  3. Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    John E. O’Toole

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Richard G. Fessler

  5. Oak Street Health, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Griffin R. Myers

Authors
  1. R. David Fessler
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  2. Kurt M. Eichholz
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  3. John E. O’Toole
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  4. Griffin R. Myers
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  5. Richard G. Fessler
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. David Fessler .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopedic Service Line, Northwell Health , New York, New York, USA

    Giles R. Scuderi

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rutgers-Robert Wood JohnsonMedicalSchool Department of Orthopedic Surgery, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

    Alfred J. Tria

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Fessler, R.D., Eichholz, K.M., O’Toole, J.E., Myers, G.R., Fessler, R.G. (2016). Minimally Invasive Thoracic Microendoscopic Discectomy. In: Scuderi, G., Tria, A. (eds) Minimally Invasive Surgery in Orthopedics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-34109-5_105

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-34109-5_105

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-34107-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-34109-5

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