[Preoperative marking of thoracic disc herniation].

INTRODUCTION

The operative therapy for thoracic disc herniations not only presents high demands on the operating surgeon, but also an additional difficulty in the certain identification of intraoperative height localisation. In this retrospective case analysis, we examine the value and practicability of CT-guided percutaneous marking for localisation of the appropriate vertebral segment.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between 1986 and 1998, eight patients were treated for a thoracic disc herniation. For these patients, the intraoperative height localisation was determined by a BV system. In two cases, healthy intervertebral discs were accidentally removed due to a faulty height localisation.

DISCUSSION

At present, the intraoperative use of BV systems for localizing affected intervertebral segments in the operative therapy of a thoracic disc herniation is finding growing application.