Thoracic Intervertebral Disc Protrusion: Experience of 67 cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Sixty-seven cases of thoracic intervertebral disc protrusion are reported with an analysis of clinical and radiological findings. The findings include the fact that male: female ratio is approximately equal, peak incidence is in the 3rd to 5th decade with another peak at age 30-40 in men. This latter peak appears to be associated with trauma which is otherwise uncommon. Results of surgical treatment indicate that the transthoracic and costotransversectomy routes are almost equally effective; laminectomy is not advised.

Analysis of hard thoracic herniated discs: review of 18 cases operated by thoracoscopy

“…Distribution according to gender showed a marked female predominance in the present series consistent with the literature [4,6,7,9,14,17,19,28,30], perhaps due to changes in the hormonal status during menopause and its consequences on calcium-phosphorus metabolism. In the present series, all of the lesions were observed in the lower half of the thoracic spine with a peak of frequency between the eighth and twelfth thoracic vertebrae.…”

Thoracic disc prolapse presenting with abdominal pain: case report and review of the literature

“…[1][2][3] Wood et al 4 reported 37% of the subjects in their study to have asymptomatic thoracic disc prolapse evident on MRI.…”

“…1,[5][6][7][8][9] Abnormal neurological symptoms are the second most common presentation. [1][2][3] These include, sensory (paraesthesia, dysaesthesia and numbness), motor and bladder or bowel disturbance. [1][2][3] There are few case reports describing abdominal pain, resulting from a thoracic disc prolapse.…”

“…[1][2][3] These include, sensory (paraesthesia, dysaesthesia and numbness), motor and bladder or bowel disturbance. [1][2][3] There are few case reports describing abdominal pain, resulting from a thoracic disc prolapse. [5][6][7][8][9] These indicate that there is no consistent mode of presentation of the pain in its nature, site or duration.…”

“…endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, 8 laparoscopy, 9 laparotomy, 5 thoracotomy, 5 hysterectomy and salpingiooopherectomy, 5 appendicectomy, 6 cholesystectomy 7 and Roux-en-Y pancreaticojejunostomy 3 ). MRI is currently considered to be the most informative method of investigation, though plain X-ray and CT scanning or myelography may also be used to aid diagnosis and treatment.…”