[Thoracic spinal stenosis : Etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment]

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Spinal Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Thoracic spinal stenosis involves thoracic spinal canal volume reduction, potentially compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots.
• Etiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options are reviewed.
• This condition is rare, with an unknown incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of thoracic spinal stenosis.
• To discuss diagnostic algorithms and treatment strategies.
• To present surgical outcomes for a cohort of patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature review spanning the last 25 years.
• Analysis of authors' clinical experience and patient results.
• Case series of 9 patients undergoing ventral surgical decompression.

Main Results:

• Common causes include ligament or facet joint hypertrophy, thoracic disc protrusion, and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).
• Symptoms typically include pain and myelopathy sparing the upper extremities.
• Ventral surgical decompression resulted in substantial pain reduction in 89% of patients.

Conclusions:

• Surgical decompression is the primary treatment for thoracic spinal stenosis.
• Ventral approaches can effectively alleviate pain associated with this condition.
• Further research is needed to determine the exact incidence and long-term outcomes.