Video-assisted thoracoscopy.

New therapeutic modalities for disorders of the pediatric spine must include video-assisted thoracoscopy. The endoscopic approach to the spine has involved an evolutionary approach. What began as an isolated drainage of a vertebral abscess was continued as a method of single discectomy; release of the annulus fibrosis with or without ligation of segmental vessels; rib resection for costoplasty; rib harvesting for intervertebral fusion; and most recently, insertion of correctional implants and fusion.