Minimally Invasive Thoracic Discectomy

The surgical techniqe for a minimally invasive thoracic discectomy is the same as for a cervical or lumbar discectomy.  Some patients with thoracic disc herniations may require an anterior trans-thoracic approach for midline thoracic disc herniations that cannot be exposed by a posterior laminectomy.  It is common to find asymptomatic thoracic disc herniations and these typically do not require surgical treatment.