Thoracoscopic minimal access anterior surgery for thoracic spine / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the feasibility of thoracoscopic minimal access anterior surgery for thoracic spine. Methods Minimal access anterior thoracic surgery was conducted under thoracoscope in 14 patients in this hospital from October 2001 to October 2002.Six patients with thoracic vertebral metastasis underwent vertebral body excision, reconstruction by cement and steel plate, and anterior internal fixation with screw-rod system;4 patients with thoracic vertebral tuberculosis received focus resection,bone graft and anterior internal fixation with screw-rod system; 2 patients with of thoracic disc herniation received discectomy and fusion;2 patients with thoracic vertebral facture and dislocation received reduction, decompression, bone graft and anterior screw-rod internal fixation. Results Postoperative imageological analysis revealed that the focus had been cleaned completely and the internal fixation was excellent. Follow-up for 4～12 months in 14 patients showed that the pain on chest and back disappeared in all the patients. Of the 13 patients with spinal compression, muscle strength recovered from grade A～D preoperatively to grade C～E postoperatively. Conclusions Thoracoscopic minimal access anterior thoracic surgery is feasible. It offers satisfactory short-term effects.