Giant thoracic discs (occupying more than 40% of the spinal canal) are a difficult surgical pathology. They are increasingly being recognized as or particular subset of thoracic disc pathology. It has been recommended that an aggressive surgical approach of open 2 level verteberectomy and instruments should be utilized.21 However Retropleural thoracotomy provides the shortest direct route to the anterior thoracic spine and avoids pleural cavity entry making it an ideal if infrequently used approach to access ventral thoracic and thoracolumbar spine abnormalities. We present a detailed description of our experience utilising this approach, for the treatment of Giant Thoracic discs without the need for vertebrectomy or instrumentation A prospective cohort of patients with Giant thoracic discs operated on utilizing the mini open retropleural thoracotomy technique was used, intra-operative and post-operative complications and length of post-op stay. Functional outcome and pain scores, were also prospectively recorded using SF-36, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and visual analogue pain scores (VAS).Object
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