The Lateral Extracavitary Approach to the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine

Abstract

In many cases of spinal instability, there coexists encroachment of the spinal canal with spinal cord or nerve root compression. Depending on etiology and clinical circumstances, consideration must be given not only to spinal stabilization but decompression or reconstruction of the spinal canal as well. These requirements can create a management dilemma because although most spinal instrumentation systems are applied posteriorly, spinal cord compression is most often ventral in origin. Many solutions to this problem have been offered. Examples include simultaneous operative exposure, anterior instrumentation systems, and a variety of indirect or blind posterior reductions/decompression techniques. The advantages and limitations of these procedures are well known.