Thoracic Spinal Stenosis: Surgical Approaches and Outcomes

Abstract

Objective: Thoracic spinal stenosis (TSS) develops as a result of decreased spinal canal volume in the thoracic spine. The prevalence of TSS is low as when compared with cervical or lumbar spinal stenosis, and conservative treatment is not effective. The present study aimed to present all surgical methods employed and their outcomes in patients diagnosed with TSS in our clinic.Methods: In this study, the data of 14 patients including three patients with single-level, nine patients with two-level, one patient with three-level, and one patient with multilevel TSS and hypophosphatemic rickets who underwent surgery due to TSS, were retrospectively evaluated using the discharge summary, surgical reports, and preoperative and postoperative radiological images.Results: The age of the patients ranged from 53 to 68 years. Of the patients included in the study, one underwent hemilaminectomy, two underwent total laminectomy, six underwent laminoplasty, and five underwent total laminectomy with fusion and posterior instrumentation. A dramatic improvement was observed in the neurological deficits existing in the preoperative period in patients who were diagnosed in the early period and underwent surgery with adequate decompression before the development of severe neurological deficits and who continued postoperative rehabilitation added to the treatment.Conclusion: Patients with TSS have an insidious clinical course manifested by upper motor neuron symptoms. Although the prevalence of TSS is low, early diagnosis and treatment are important. The results of surgery are satisfactory when adequate decompression is achieved before the clinical condition worsens.