title: Modified French-window thoracotomy for exposure of the anterior thoracic spine.
abstract: Due to the limited exposure, technical challenges, and postoperative pain of thoracic spine surgery, open thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The modified French-window thoracotomy approach with the aid of a thoracoscope is a useful technique for approaching diseases of the anterior spinal. This approach allows for specific exposure of the spine with a reduction in postoperative pain, morbidity, and mortality and avoids the limitations of VATS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007, USA. elizabethadavid@gmail.com
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Ann C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gaffey
authors.forename: Robert Bryan
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Margaret Blair
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D015505:Chest Tubes; D004219:District of Columbia; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D009407:Nerve Block; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D020708:Thoracoscopes; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome