STUDY DESIGN: This report is a preliminary description of the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in thoracic spinal procedures that otherwise require open thoracotomy. OBJECTIVE: This report sought to describe the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in thoracic spinal procedures that otherwise require open thoracotomy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In a landmark study that compared video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for peripheral lung lesions with thoracotomy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery reduced postoperative pain, improved early shoulder girdle function, and shortened hospital stay. METHODS: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed in 12 thoracic spinal patients (herniated nucleus pulposus, infection, tumor, or spinal deformity) and is described in detail in this report. RESULTS: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in thoracic spinal surgery resulted in little postoperative pain, short intensive care unit and hospital stays, and little or no morbidity. In the short follow-up period, there was no post-thoracotomy pain syndrome nor neurologic sequelae in these patients. Operative time decreased dramatically as experience was gained with the procedure. CONCLUSION: Given consistently improving surgical skills, a number of thoracic spinal procedures using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, including thoracic discectomy, internal rib thoracoplasty, anterior osteotomy, corpectomy, and fusion, can be performed safely with no additional surgical time or risk to the patient.
STUDY DESIGN: This report is a preliminary description of the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in thoracic spinal procedures that otherwise require open thoracotomy. OBJECTIVE: This report sought to describe the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in thoracic spinal procedures that otherwise require open thoracotomy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In a landmark study that compared video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for peripheral lung lesions with thoracotomy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery reduced postoperative pain, improved early shoulder girdle function, and shortened hospital stay. METHODS: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed in 12 thoracic spinal patients (herniated nucleus pulposus, infection, tumor, or spinal deformity) and is described in detail in this report. RESULTS: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in thoracic spinal surgery resulted in little postoperative pain, short intensive care unit and hospital stays, and little or no morbidity. In the short follow-up period, there was no post-thoracotomy pain syndrome nor neurologic sequelae in these patients. Operative time decreased dramatically as experience was gained with the procedure. CONCLUSION: Given consistently improving surgical skills, a number of thoracic spinal procedures using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, including thoracic discectomy, internal rib thoracoplasty, anterior osteotomy, corpectomy, and fusion, can be performed safely with no additional surgical time or risk to the patient.