ReviewInternational orthopaedics2019
Surgical treatment of thoracic disc herniation: an overview.
Review in International orthopaedics, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 52 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
52 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 102 citations in OpenAlex.
- Anterior versus posterior approaches in thoracic discectomies: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Neurosurgical review · 2025Pooled it
- Diagnostic approach, therapeutic strategies, and surgical indications in intradural thoracic disc herniation associated with CSF leak, intracranial hypotension, and CNS superficial siderosis.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2022Pooled it
- Volumetric and symptomatic characteristics of thoracic disc herniation: an observational study of 994 surgically treated patients.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Observational
- A morphometric analysis of thoracic laminae using 3D reconstruction for guiding unilateral biportal endoscopic surgery.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
- Interventional radiology management of disc herniation: a narrative review.La Radiologia medica · 2026Review
- Anatomy of the Long Thoracic Nerve in Relation to Thoracotomy for Spinal Approaches: How to Avoid Nerve Injury?Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.) · 2026Article
- Unilateral biportal endoscopic thoracic costotransversectomy approach: a minimally invasive technique for thoracic disc herniation-a technical feasibility report.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2026Article
- Surgical Management of Metastatic Extraskeletal Extradural Ewing Sarcoma of the Thoracic Spine in a Patient with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report.Journal of neurological surgery reports · 2026Article
- Thoracic endoscopic spine surgery: systematic review of the literature and exploring the margin of benefit.Journal of spine surgery (Hong Kong) · 2026Review
- Salvage Full-Endoscopic Resection of Residual Giant Thoracic Disc Herniation After Transpedicular Decompression and Instrumented Fusion: Technical Note, Literature Review, and Supplemental Video.International journal of spine surgery · 2026Article
- The role of intraoperative ultrasound during lateral extracavitary approach in thoracic disc herniation surgery. Tips and tricks for lateral approaches.Journal of ultrasound · 2026Article
- Intervertebral disc degeneration.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2026Review
- What would you do first? A survey of treatment priorities for patients with hip-spine syndrome among spine and hip surgeons.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Article
- Arthroscopic-assisted uniportal spinal surgery for the treatment of rare T10/T11 thoracic disc herniation: a case report.Frontiers in surgery · 2026Article
- Article
- [Cervical and thoracic disc herniation].Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026Review
- Transpedicular Transdural Approach for Calcified Thoracic Disc Herniations: Technical Commentary, Case Series, and Review of the Literature.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Dura Vibration Difference Between PTP Bone Resection and Upper Facet Joints En Bolc Resection in Posterior Thoracic Decompression.Orthopaedic surgery · 2025Article
- Advancements in Spinal Endoscopic Surgery: Comprehensive Techniques and Pathologies Addressed by Full Endoscopy Beyond Lumbar Disc Herniation.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Endoscopic "cave-in" technique for massive thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament combined with thoracic disc herniation with 36 months of follow-up: a case report and review of the literature.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSurgical treatment of thoracic disc herniation (TDH) is technically demanding due to its proximity to the spinal cord.
methodsLiterature review.
resultsSymptomatic TDH is a rare condition predominantly localized between T8 and L1. Surgical indications include intractable back or radicular pain, neurological deficits, and myelopathy signs. Giant calcified TDH (> 40% spinal canal occupation) are frequently associated with myelopathy, intradural extension, and post-operative complications. Careful pre-operative planning helps reduce the risk of complications. Pre-operative CT and MRI identify the hernia's location and size, calcifications, and intradural extension. The approach must provide adequate dural sac visualization with minimal manipulation of the cord. Non-anterior approaches are favoured if they provide at least equal exposure than anterior approach owing to higher risk of pulmonary morbidity associated with anterior approach. A transthoracic approach is recommended for central calcified herniated discs. A posterolateral approach is often suitable for non-calcified lateralized TDH. Thoracoscopic approaches are less invasive but have a substantial learning curve. Retropleural mini-thoracotomy is an acceptable alternative. Pre-operative identification of the pathological level is confirmed by intra-operative level check. Intra-operative cord monitoring is preferable but warrant further studies. Magnification and adequate lightening of the surgical field are paramount (microscope, thoracoscopy). Intra-operative CT scan with navigation is becoming increasingly popular since it provides real-time control on the decompression. Indications of fusion consist of pre-operative back pain, Scheuermann's disease, multilevel resection, wide vertebral body resection (> 50%), and herniation at thoracolumbar junction. Neurological deterioration, dural tear, and subarachnoid-pleural fistula are the most severe complications.
conclusionFurther improvements are still warranted in thoracic spine surgery despite the advent of minimally invasive techniques. Intra-operative CT scan will probably enhance the safety of the TDH surgery.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.