ABSTRACT
[Objective]To investigate the method of anterior transsternal approach for the patients with upper thoracic spine diseases and the clinic results.[Method]Six cases upper thoracic spinal diseases,1 case of C7/T1 grade V dislocation,1 case of T1、2 TB,2 cases of upper thoracic tumor,1 case of T2 fracture and 1 case of T2、3 disc prolapse,were treated with the anterior transsternal approach operation since Oct.2001.The lesions areas were exposed via partial or complete sternotomy.The relative articles were reviewed.[Result]The average follow-up was 12.4 months(range from 6 to 22 months,except the died one).The case of C7/T1 grade V dislocation died of respiratory tract obstruction and one case of malignant schwannoma recurred 6 months post-operation.Good results were obtained in the other 4 cases.No operative complication happened in all cases.[Conclusion]While the transthoracic lateral approach cannot expose the upper thoracic spine clearly,the anterior cervical approach cannot expose the T2、3 clearly also.The anterior transsternal approach can provide a safe access to the lesions located on the upper thoracic spine above T4.