title: Endoscope-assisted thoracolumbar lateral corpectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report an endoscope-assisted lateral approach to expose the intervertebral foramen and disk and perform lateral corpectomy of thoracolumbar disks in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cadaver study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fresh canine cadavers (n=6).
  
  
  METHODS
  A thoracic (T10-T11) and a lumbar (L3-L4) lateral approach were made on 6 fresh canine mixed breed cadavers. Through a limited skin incision, musculature was dissected and retracted using a neurosurgical self-retaining retractor and lateral corpectomy performed. The approach and bone removal, both performed under endoscopic control, were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The foramen and intervertebral disk were clearly observed in all specimens without any iatrogenic injury of the ventral and dorsal nerve branches. Access to the foramen was possible in all specimens; in the thoracic area the head of the rib was always partially excised to observe the intervertebral disk medially. Lateral corpectomy was easily performed in all cadavers and spinal cord observation was good. Extension to foraminotomy or mini hemilaminectomy could easily be performed through the same limited approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic exploration provided a good viewing of the intervertebral disk and/or foramen. An endoscope-assisted thoracolumbar lateral corpectomy could effectively be performed through a limited approach to the thoracolumbar disks and allowed good ventral spinal cord assessment.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, VetAgroSup-Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Marcy L'Etoile, France. c.carozzo@vetagro-sup.fr
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carozzo
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maitre
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Genevois
authors.forename: Pierre-Alexandre
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gabanou
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fau
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viguier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D017587:Diskectomy, Percutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*