Percutaneous endoscopic thoracic discectomy via posterolateral approach: A case report of migrated thoracic disc herniation

RATIONALE: Minimally invasive surgeries for thoracic disc herniation (TDH) evolved rapidly in recent years, and multiple approaches have been put forward. Thoracic discectomy via percutaneous spine endoscopy (PSE) is inadequately documented because of the low prevalence of TDH and the high difficulty of thoracic spine endoscopy techniques. Herein, we present a TDH case who underwent percutaneous endoscopic thoracic discectomy. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 28-year-old male suffered backpain and partial paralysis in lower extremities. DIAGNOSES: Magnet resonance imaging demonstrated T11-12 TDH, with cranially migrated disc fragment. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent percutaneous endoscopic thoracic discectomy via posterolateral approach with the assistance of endoscopic reamer in the procedure of foramino-laminaplasty. OUTCOMES: The patient's muscle force improved immediately, and the backpain relieved after 5 days post-surgery. In the 6-month follow-up, he had normal muscle force without paresthesia in lower limbs. LESSONS: The innovative design of endoscopic reamer provides effective plasty and access establishment with lower risk and difficulty, which ensures the vision and the operating space of the procedure of decompression. With this technique, the indications of thoracic PSE were broadened to both ventral and dorsal thoracic stenosis.