Emergency thoracic diskectomy for the acute onset of paraplegia: report of two cases.
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.
Arnold
Paul M
PM
Section of Neurosurgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA. parnold@kumc.edu
Bryniarski
Mark
M
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