Non-traumatic Spontaneous Paraplegia Secondary to Thoracic Disc Herniations in the Setting of Tobacco Abuse and COVID-19: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Thoracic disc herniations (TDHs) are very rare. While most common in the setting of trauma, other etiologies have been documented. Here, we present a case of spontaneous TDHs in the setting of tobacco abuse and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causing acute paraplegia. We review spontaneous TDHs, associated risk factors, and the possible role of COVID-19 in the pathophysiology.

Thoracic Pedicle Screw Placement Utilizing Hands-On Training Session on Three-Dimensional Models.

The utilization of three-dimensional (3D) models has been an important element of medical education. We demonstrate a three-dimensionally-printed (3DP) thoracic spine model for use in the teaching of freehand pedicle screw placement. Neurosurgical residents with varying years of experience practiced screw placement on these models. Residents were timed, and models were evaluated for medial and lateral breaches. Overall, this technical report describes the utility of 3D spine models in the training of thoracic pedicle screw placement. The tactile feedback from the 3D models was designed to represent both cortical and cancellous bones.