Experience of surgical treatment via posterior approaches for herniated thoracic disc

The incidence of symptomatic herniated thoracic disc (HTD) is very low. There are still no established priority in surgical approaches and guidelines for additional instrumentation with fusion. From 2007 through 2014, 38 patients (22 males and 16 females) were enrolled. The thoracolumbar region was a most common site for HTD (75.6%). The clinical characteristics of HTD based on size, location, and calcification; the factors for applying instrumentation with fusion were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were undergone surgical treatment via various posterior approaches. The additional instrumentation with fusion was performed in 14 patients (36.8%). The larger amount of facet joint resection (more than 50%) was only statistical significant factor for instrumentation (p=0.023). There were four surgical complications (10.5%). Surgical treatment via posterior approach was a reliable modality for HTD. The significant factor for applying additional instrumentation with fusion was the amount of facet joint resection.