Posterolateral approach to the thoracic spine for spinal tuberculosis: A Technical Note and an Analysis of Results

Abstract

Surgical pathologies in the thoracic spine are principally located anteriorly within the vertebral body resulting in vertebral body destruction, kyphotic deformity, and anterior or anterolateral compression of the spinal cord. Adequate decompression of the neural elements and vertebral body reconstruction requires access to the anterior spinal column. The posterolateral approach through a posterior midline incision allows circumferential spinal cord decompression, anterior column reconstruction, correction of thoracic kyphosis, and posterior spinal stabilization to be safely performed through a single incision, at a single sitting with excellent outcomes.