Calcified Thoracic Disc Herniations in the Elderly: Revisiting the Laminectomy for Single Level Disease

Retrospective case series.

Calcified thoracic disc herniations in the elderly present with a variety of clinical conditions and the treatment is a source of significant debate. Decompression of the disc space is done through anterior, lateral, posterolateral, and posterior approaches. There is significant morbidity of thoracic disc herniation and associated decompression.

The present report is a case series of 8 elderly patients with calcified discopathy who received a simple laminectomy without decompression of the disc space.

Postoperatively, 5 patients mobilized independently, 2 with a walker, and 1 patient was nonambulatory. Two patients improved 1 ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale) score, 1 patient improved 2 ASIA scores, and 3 patients had no change in ASIA score.

In our experience, thoracic disc herniations require a technically difficult decompression and overall the complications are significant. We present a series of 8 patients who generally improved from a simple laminectomy and consider this a viable procedure for patients too unwell to undergo direct disc decompression.