Thoracic Discectomy Through a Unilateral Transpedicular or Costotransversectomy Approach With Intraoperative Ultrasound Guidance

The disc location, extent of calcification, limited visualization of the ventral cord, and tenuous blood supply to the thoracic spinal cord pose unique technical challenges when surgically treating thoracic disc herniation.To report our initial experience with a series of cases in which intraoperative ultrasound image guidance was used for thoracic discectomy through a unilateral transpedicular or costotransversectomy approach.Five patients (n =...