Anterior decompression and fusion via the extrapleural approach for thoracic disc herniation causing myelopathy

Anterior decompression and fusion via an extrapleural approach was performed for 33 patients with myelopathy arising from thoracic disc herniation and the clinical usefulness and problems related to this procedure were assessed on the basis of surgical results and complications. The severity of the myelopathy was evaluated by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, and the surgical results were based on the recovery rate. The upper-level limit of decompression and fusion via the extrapleural approach was T4-5. The recovery rate for the mean postoperative follow-up period of 41 months was 66.7%. An age of 60 years or more, long duration of illness and severe preoperative myelopathy were indicators of a poor prognosis. Two patients suffered from a postoperative transient pulmonary complication due to hemothorax. X-ray examinations revealed good bone union in all the patients. The present study indicates that anterior decompression and fusion via the extrapleural approach is a useful technique which can be used to achieve a high success rate in the surgical treatment of thoracic disc herniation, if intervention is early.