Thoracoscopic Surgery of the Spine

Anterior approach to the thoracic spine has been limited by the morbidity of a thoracotomy. By a thoracoscopic approach, a majority of thoracic spine procedures can now be performed from the anterior approach including diskectomy for herniation, release for correction of spinal deformity and corpectomy for tumor. Although experience is limited and results still short term, the thoracoscopic approach appears to be a promising one for the treatment of thoracic spine disease.