Surgery Of The Thoracic Spine

This book describes and illustrates a variety of minimally invasive approaches to the thoracic spine, covering procedures applicable in not only degenerative diseases but also deformities and trauma. Surgery to the thoracic spine is demanding because of the surrounding ribs, lungs, heart, and large blood vessels and the challenges posed by the vulnerable spinal cord within a relatively small spinal canal. Consequently, postsurgical morbidity is often high. In this context, minimally invasive surgery offers significant benefits, but to date, comprehensive coverage in textbooks is lacking owing to the limited experience in the use of minimally invasive surgical techniques. This book will be ideal for all who are searching for clear guidance that is faithful to the established principles of spine surgery and evidence-based medicine. In addition to the comprehensive coverage of procedures appropriate in different pathologies, including thoracic disc herniation, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, ossification of the ligamentum flavum, and stenosis, individual chapters address the transforaminal endoscopic approach, interventional treatment, intraoperative neuromonitoring, and navigation for thoracic spine surgery.

The definitive guide to thoracic spine pathologies and state-of-the-art surgical approaches Surgery of the Thoracic Spine: Principles and Techniques by renowned spine surgeons Ali Baaj, Kumar Kakarla, and Han Jo Kim fills a gap in the literature, with content focused solely on pathologies and surgical techniques of the thoracic spine and vertebral column. Starting with a thoughtful discussion on the uniqueness of the thoracic region as it relates to pulmonary function, the richly illustrated textbook covers a full spectrum of topics from biomechanics and anesthetic considerations to neuromonitoring and neuronavigation. With contributions from a cadre of distinguished experts, the book encompasses pathophysiology, surgical techniques, and reconstructive strategies for common degenerative, congenital, oncologic, and traumatic diseases of the thoracic spine. Dedicated chapters cover treatment options for different types of scoliosis, Scheuermann kyphosis, proximal junctional deformity, and posttraumatic deformity. Key Features Treatment of common degenerative conditions including stenosis and disc herniations Management of less common inflammatory and infectious spinal diseases such as spondylarthropathies, osteomyelitis, discitis, and fungal and tubercular infections Oncologic topics including primary, intradural extramedullary, and intramedullary spinal cord tumors and thoracic spine metastases Surgical treatment of pediatric and adult deformities including congenital, idiopathic, and degenerative scoliosis Classification of thoracic spinal fractures, discussion of complete and incomplete thoracic spinal cord injuries, posterior and ventral treatment of thoracic spine fractures, and osteoporotic compression fractures This is an invaluable evaluation and management tool for neurosurgical and orthopaedic residents and practicing spine surgeons who treat patients with common to complex thoracic spinal pathologies.

The definitive guide to thoracic spine pathologies and state-of-the-art surgical approaches Surgery of the Thoracic Spine: Principles and Techniques by renowned spine surgeons Ali Baaj, Kumar Kakarla, and Han Jo Kim fills a gap in the literature, with content focused solely on pathologies and surgical techniques of the thoracic spine and vertebral column. Starting with a thoughtful discussion on the uniqueness of the thoracic region as it relates to pulmonary function, the richly illustrated textbook covers a full spectrum of topics from biomechanics and anesthetic considerations to neuromonitoring and neuronavigation. With contributions from a cadre of distinguished experts, the book encompasses pathophysiology, surgical techniques, and reconstructive strategies for common degenerative, congenital, oncologic, and traumatic diseases of the thoracic spine. Dedicated chapters cover treatment options for different types of scoliosis, Scheuermann kyphosis, proximal junctional deformity, and posttraumatic deformity. Key Features Treatment of common degenerative conditions including stenosis and disc herniations Management of less common inflammatory and infectious spinal diseases such as spondylarthropathies, osteomyelitis, discitis, and fungal and tubercular infections Oncologic topics including primary, intradural extramedullary, and intramedullary spinal cord tumors and thoracic spine metastases Surgical treatment of pediatric and adult deformities including congenital, idiopathic, and degenerative scoliosis Classification of thoracic spinal fractures, discussion of complete and incomplete thoracic spinal cord injuries, posterior and ventral treatment of thoracic spine fractures, and osteoporotic compression fractures This is an invaluable evaluation and management tool for neurosurgical and orthopaedic residents and practicing spine surgeons who treat patients with common to complex thoracic spinal pathologies.

This valuable reference provides coverage on disorders of the thoracic spine including biomechanics, imaging, nonoperative therapies, indications/contraindications for surgery, exposures and techniques, monitoring, instrumentation, and complications. Anterior and posterior approaches are thoroughly covered as well as minimally invasive techniques for spine surgery. Topics covered range from common disorders to more complex problems, including deformity correction, tumor, degenerative disease, infection, and trauma. Treatment protocols are described for higher-risk subgroups such as pediatric, elderly, obese, osteopenic, critically ill, and spinal cord injury patients. The Thoracic Spine is an essential resource for surgeons who treat patients with spinal disorders. Add it to your library today!

The desire to expose the spine for surgery by anterior approaches at any level between the head and the sacrum is not new. Spinal pathology is often located anterior to the spinal cord and nerve roots in the cervical and thoracic spine, and anterior to the peripheral nerves that emerge from the lumbosacral spine below the first lumbar ver tebra. To treat such pathology one prefers to expose the front of the spine directly and widely enough to eradicate the pathology and to have full control of bleeding throughout the procedure. The posterior elements of the spine are important for mechanical stability of the spine, and therefore for the protection of the neural and vascular structures in the spine that would be threatened by instability. Extensive eradication of pathology posterior to the spinal canal and the intervertebral foraminae, including the transverse processes, may leave no adequate bony bed for the surgical creation of a stabilizing osseous fusion. In such a situation, an anterior fusion procedure is the only viable alternative to a posterior or posterolateral fusion. In situations where it is critically important to obtain a stable fusion, as in tuberculosis of the spine, both an anterior and a posterior fusion operation at the same motion segments is, in almost every instance, a guarantee of a stable osseous fusion. One should know both approaches.

The second edition of the highly successful Surgical Approaches to the Spine will continue the tradition of presenting clearly enumerated and illustrated, step-by-step surgical procedures for the spine. New to this edition are chapters on the anterior approach to clivus C1 & C2, transclavicular cervico-thoracic approach, transsternal approach to the cervico-thoracic & upper thoracic spine, approaches to the sacrum & pelvis, and laparoscopic approaches.

Spinal osteotomy techniques have been dramatically applied as a standard method for severe and rigid spinal deformity. Although clinical results indicate that patients who undergo osteotomy procedures typically experience well deformity correction and ameliorate the clinical appearance, aggressive peri-operative risks and follow-up complications are not rare. More meticulous and standard indication selection, osteotomy plan design and complication prevention strategy and outcome evaluation are critically needed for surgeon majored in spine deformity. The book Spinal Osteotomy is divided into sections that focus on principles of spinal osteotomy, technical and case illustration and outcomes and complications as well as computer navigation and other latest techniques. Each section is heavily illustrated and clearly written for ease of understanding. Orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeon residents and fellows who want to focus on spinal deformity correction will find this instructive and invaluable.

In this comprehensive and original monograph, Professor Rene Louis presents in minute detail in one volume the gross anatomy, nerve supply, biomechanics, and microcirculation of the spine. He also presents the surgical approaches to the vertebral bodies and their contents. Professor Louis is a great anatomist and this book has been prepared from his personal observations, both anatomical and surgical. His studies have been meticulously conducted and contain much original research, for instance his work on the motion of the neural elements within the lumbar vertebral canal. The illustrations are neady all original and very often a photograph of the neural or vascular elements is presented alongside a drawing of a given important anatomical area. For all these reasons, this inspiring treatise makes a valuable contri bution to our knowledge of the spine and forms a basis for an under standing of the intricacies of surgical anatomy and approaches. It will be especially valuable to the spinal surgeon, but the medical student, the orthopedic resident (or registrar), and the anatomist will also find it extremely useful. Leon L. Wiltse, M.D.