Posterolateral transforaminal interbody fusion for thoracic disc herniation: a retrospective study of 38 cases.

Abstract

To evaluate the clinical results of posterolateral transforaminal interbody fusion (PTIF) for the treatment of thoracic disc herniation (TDH). Thirty-eight patients with TDH were treated with PTIF in our hospital from November 1999 to November 2003. The mean follow-up period was 5.8 years (range, 4.2 to 6.5 years). There were 24 men and 14 women, ranging from 30.5 to 67.5 years, with an average of 46.5 years. The interval between onset of symptoms and surgery ranged from 5 to 12 months with an average of 9 months. In this group, the disc herniation involved T(9-10) or T(10-11) in 26 (68.5%) patients, T(8-9) in 4 (10.5%), T(11-12) in 4 (10.5%) and T(12)L(1) in 4 (10.5%). All patients underwent X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. Twenty-two patients underwent myelography, while 25 patients underwent computer tomography (CT) or CT myelography (CTM) examination. The clinical results were evaluated using the Otani scoring system. The outcome according to the Otani scoring system was excellent in 16 patients, good in 18, fair in 2 and poor in 2. No neurological symptoms, wound infection or clinical or radiographic evidence of instability were found; and the fusion rate was 100% by final follow-up. An excellent or good outcome was achieved in 89.5% of patients. PTIF is an effective strategy for the treatment of TDH.