Salvage Full-Endoscopic Resection of Residual Giant Thoracic Disc Herniation After Transpedicular Decompression and...

Residual giant thoracic disc herniations after open decompression are uncommon and present a significant surgical challenge, particularly in the setting of prior instrumentation and distorted anatomy. Here, the authors present a case of salvage full-endoscopic resection of a residual giant, centrally calcified thoracic disc herniation causing persistent spinal cord compression following prior transpedicular decompression and instrumented fusion. A 37-year-old woman presented with persistent thoracic pain, gait disturbance, and myelopathic symptoms after partial improvement from an initial open T6 to T7 transpedicular decompression with T6 to T8 fusion. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography demonstrated a residual giant calcified disc herniation at T6 to T7 with severe spinal cord compression and signal change. The patient underwent revision right-sided full-endoscopic thoracic discectomy using preoperative trajectory planning, docking on preserved osseous landmarks, ventral cavity creation, and controlled disc mobilization. The patient experienced rapid postoperative recovery with immediate resolution of thoracic pain and sustained improvement in gait and balance. This case demonstrates that full-endoscopic thoracic discectomy can be safely and effectively applied as a salvage technique to achieve spinal cord decompression in complex revision settings following failed open thoracic disc surgery.