Thoracic Spinal Stenosis

A stenotic spinal canal in the cervical or lumbar region is a well-known clinical entity. However, stenosis involving a thoracic vertebra is rarely mentioned in the literature. Improved neuroimaging facilities, especially MRI, let us detect the thoracic canal stenosis not so infrequently as in the past years. The authors are reporting six operative cases of thoracic myelopathy associated with thoracic spinal stenosis. Motor & sensory abnormalities were found in all cases during the clinical course. Magnetic resonance imaging and Metrizamide CT scanning were useful in the diagnosis of thoracic spinal stenosis. Treatment consited of wide posterior decompression resulting in symptomatic improvement in five of six patients.