title: Lateral approach for anterior thoracic spinal lesions.
abstract: A lateral approach, consisting of a modified transversectomy, hemilaminectomy, and adequate transversectomy with costectomy of 7-8 cm, was used to treat four cases of anterior or anterolateral thoracic lesions, including two cases of thoracic disc herniations, one of thoracic meningioma, and one of hypertrophic pachymeningitis. All patients presented with gait disturbance, but recovered well postoperatively except for one who needed rehabilitation of the lower extremities. This approach provides a greater access to the anterior thoracic canal, and can achieve effective anterior decompression, and a good outcome for thoracic spinal disease if recognized early.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka Neurological Institute.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakase
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watabe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Touho
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karasawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013903:Thoracic Surgery; D013909:Thorax / Q000473:pathology*