Trans-thoracic versus retropleural approach for symptomatic thoracic disc herniations: comparative analysis of 94 consecutive cases.

Purpose: The authors illustrate their results in the surgical treatment of symptomatic thoracic disc herniations (TDHs) by comparing the traditional open to the less invasive retropleural lateral approaches.

Methods: Retrospective review of 94 consecutive cases treated at a single Institution between 1988 and 2014. Fifty-two patients were males, 42 females, mean age was 53.