Purpose Thoracic disk herniation is uncommon. It still represents a challenge for spinal surgeons. Multiple surgical strategies are available and, often, they are matter of debate. We describe a preliminary experience about a combined extra-intra dural approach for posterolateral disk herniation in patients affected by spinal cord compression.
Methods: We performed a combined extra-intra dural approach in two preliminary cases. We performed bilateral laminectomy of adjacent vertebrae and unilateral partial medial arthrectomy of the involved segment. After a lateral extradural diskectomy, we, subsequently, performed a median longitudinal durotomy. The conflict between disk herniation and spinal cord was identified. We removed disk herniation moving disk fragments in the extradural compartment without ventral spinal dura opening.
Results: We solved spinal cord compression in both cases. Postoperative neurological improvement was observed in both cases. No major complications were observed.
Conclusion: Our preliminary results are probably insufficient to establish surgical criteria but offer another surgical perspective to especially treat patients with contraindication to anterior approaches.
Keywords: Spinal cord compression; Surgical spine approach; Thoracic disk herniation.