Thoracic disk prolapse

Fifteen patients with thoracic disc prolapse were treated at our institution over a 23 year period. The clinical presentation, investigations, surgical treatment and results of these cases are analysed retrospectively in this report. Lower dorsal region disc prolapse formed the majority of cases. Local and radicular pain, motor weakness, bladder and bowel involvement were the principal presenting features. Five cases had acute presentation while the rest had chronic and progressive symptomatology. All cases were treated by posterior decompressive laminectomy operation and in five discoidectomy was performed. It was observed on long term follow up than patients who underwent discoidectomy faired better than those in whom only laminectomy was performed.