title: Emergency thoracic diskectomy for the acute onset of paraplegia: report of two cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thoracic disk herniation is a rare event, and acute presentation of this lesion is even less common.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both patients presented with rapidly progressing lower extremity weakness and sphincter dysfunction. Radiographic work-up revealed large herniated thoracic disks with spinal cord compression. Emergency thoracic diskectomy was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both patients had partial reversal of neurologic and sphincter abnormalities after emergency surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thoracic disk herniation, although rare, should be considered when patients present with acute thoracic myelopathy. Early surgical intervention may reverse some neurologic injuries.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurosurgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA. parnold@kumc.edu
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bryniarski
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D017586:Diskectomy; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome