Repair of Thoracic Spinal Cord Herniation: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Spinal cord herniation is an uncommon surgically treatable cause of thoracic myelopathy and progressive paraplegia. The thoracic spinal cord focally protrudes through a defect in the dura, resulting in progressive weakness, numbness, and spasticity affecting the lower extremities, in addition to possible urinary symptoms. In this video, we present the case of a 69-yr-old female who presented with 3 yr of progressive thoracic myelopathy due to a thoracic spinal cord herniation at T4-T5. We demonstrate the surgical steps to lyse arachnoid webs, mobilize the spinal cord, reduce the spinal cord herniation, and repair the dural defect. Appropriate patient consent was obtained.

Duke Scholars

Author Brandon Wayne Smith Neurosurgery