Lateral extracavitary approach to the spine for thoracic disc herniation: report of 23 cases.

Twenty-three patients were operated upon for thoracic disc herniation between 1973 and 1982. The lateral approach to the vertebral column was used in each. Most patients had severe local pain; 13 had severe myelopathy or complete motor paralysis, including 4 who had become paraplegic after laminectomy. Eleven patients had calcified discs or osteophytic ridges. Air myelography and computed tomography were diagnostic in all cases. Postoperatively, 17 patients achieved significant relief of pain, 20 improved neurologically, and none became worse. Complications of the operation were minimal. The lateral extracavitary approach to the spine is a valuable technique for the management of thoracic disc herniation.