Abordaje lateral retropleural mínimamente invasivo para hernia de disco torácica gigante calcificada: reporte de caso / Minimally Invasive Lateral Retropleural Approach for Calcified Giant Thoracic Disc Herniation: Case Report

Introducción: Las hernias de disco torácicas (HDT) representan solo el 0.15-1.8% de las hernias de disco tratadas quirúrgicamente. Se han descrito distintos tipos de abordajes que reportan diferentes índices de éxito y complicaciones. El objetivo es presentar el caso quirúrgico de una HDT resuelta por un abordaje lateral retropleural mínimamente invasivo y exponer las ventajas del mismo. Descripción: Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 29 años, que consultó por dorsalgia y paresia crural izquierda 4/5. La TC y RM mostraron una HDT gigante calcificada T8-9. Bajo monitoreo neurofisiológico y visión microscópica, se realizó un abordaje lateral retropleural izquierdo mínimamente invasivo, con resección parcial de la costilla para luego utilizar un sistema de dilatadores y retractores tubulares. Se confirmó el nivel bajo radioscopía, y se completó con el drilado de la cabeza costal para exponer el espacio y la HDT calcificada de manera precoz. Se realizó la discectomía del fragmento herniado, incluyendo drilado intracanal de la porción calcificada y se completó la descompresión incluyendo la porción posterior de los platillos vertebrales y el pedículo inferior. Parte del fragmento herniado se encontraba íntimamente adherido al saco dural, por lo que creímos conveniente dejar este remanente para evitar complicaciones. La paciente evolucionó favorablemente, recuperando de manera completa el déficit motor y el dolor que motivaron la consulta. Consideramos que no fue necesario realizar ningún tipo de fusión intersomática. Discusión: Los distintos abordajes propuestos tienen sus ventajas y desventajas. El desarrollo de las técnicas mínimamente invasivas sumado a la posibilidad de exponer precozmente la lesión resultan ventajas importantes en estos casos. La necesidad de fusión es un tema controversial, donde la mayoría de los trabajos sugieren que no es mandatoria. Conclusión: el abordaje lateral retropleural mínimamente invasivo es una técnica segura, que permitió una visualización precoz de la HDT sin desplazar el estuche dural y logrando una adecuada descompresión. Además, evita la morbilidad que podría representar la toracotomía transtorácica y la necesidad de fusión

Introduction: Thoracics disc herniations (TDH) represent just 0.15-1.8% of all surgically treated herniated discs. Many approaches had been described with different amount of success and complications. The objective is to present a TDH surgical case using a minimally invasive lateral retropleural approach and describe the advantages of this approach. Case description: we present a 29 years old female who presented with dorsal pain and right leg weakness 4/5. CT and MRi showed a calcified giant TDH T8-9. The surgery was performed under neurophysiological monitoring and using a surgical microscope. A minimally invasive left lateral retropleural approach was performed, with partial resection of a rib. Finally, we used dilators and tubular retractors. After radioscopic confirmation of T8-9, we completed the approach by drilling rib ́s head in order to early expose the spinal canal with the TDH. We resected the herniated fragment of the TDH, drilled the calcified intraspinal canal portion and completed the decompression including the posterior portion of the endplates and the inferior pedicle. The most anterior portion of the TDH was intimately attached to the dural sac, so we decided to leave this remanent in order to avoid complications. The patient had a good postoperative recovery, the leg weakness and pain improved significantly. From our perspective, we consider that no intersomatic fusion was necessary. Discusion: each approach has it advantages and disadvantages. The evolution of minimally invasive techniques together with the early visualization of TDH became important advantages in these cases. The need of fusion remains controversial, and most of the literature suggest that is not mandatory. Conclusión: the minimally invasive lateral retropleural approach is a safe technique that offers an early visualization of the TDH without manipulation of the dural sac and allows an adequate decompression. Furthermore, this approach avoids the morbidity of a transthoracic approach and the requirement of fusion.

Ultrasound-Guided Posterolateral Approach for Midline Calcified Thoracic Disc Herniation

OBJECTIVE: Symptomatic thoracic disc herniation often requires prompt surgical treatment to prevent neurological deterioration and permanent deficits. Anterior approaches offer direct visualization and access to the herniated disc and anterior dura but require access surgeons and are often associated with considerable postoperative pain and pulmonary complications. A disadvantage with using posterior approaches in the setting of central calcified thoracic disc herniation however, has been the limited visualization of anterior dura and difficulty to accurately assess the extent of decompression. METHODS: We report our experience with intraoperative ultrasound (US) guidance during a modified posterior transpedicular approach for removal of a central calcified thoracic disc herniation with a review of pertinent literature. RESULTS: The herniated thoracic disc was successfully removed with posterior approach with the aid of intraoperative US. The patient had significant neurological improvement at three months follow-up. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative ultrasound is a simple yet valuable tool for real-time imaging during transpedicular thoracic discectomy. Visualization provided by intraoperative US increases the safety profile of posterior approaches and may make thoracotomy unnecessary in a selected group of patients, especially when a patient has existing pulmonary disease or is otherwise not medically fit for the transthoracic approach.