[Transthoracic approach to dorsal disc hernias].

Three cases of thoracic disc protrusions, treated by the transthoracic surgical approach, are reported. The signs and symptoms of the patients were not essentially different from findings encountered in other types of space-occupying thoracic intra-spinal lesions. The diagnosis by high resolution computed axial tomography provides more information and may eliminate future use of myelography. In their median localisation, the thoracic disc protrusions are equally accessible by either a right or a left transthoracic approach. Yet, the right lateral approach was preferred because of the overlapping aorta on the left. If, for some reason, a left lateral approach is considered, the level of entry of Adamkiewicz artery should be identified by preoperative spinal angiography. The postoperative results are excellent in all three cases as opposed to a fourth operated by laminectomy.