This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages without signing in

Thoracic disc prolapse

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Thoracic disc prolapse is a rare complaint owing to the relative rigidity of the thoracic spine. It accounts for 0.2% of all disc lesions.

Presentation:

  • root pain and/or
  • progressive, fluctuating paraparesis

Investigation:

  • axial CT / MRI - demonstrates a midline thoracic disc protrusion
  • myelography - demonstrates an anterior filling defect at the level of the disc space

Treatment:

  • surgery - indicated if there is cord compression or unremitting root pain. An anterior transthoracic decompression provides the safest approach. Laminectomy carries a high risk of paraplegia.

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.