Anterior Discectomy and Hemivertebrectomy

Thoracic vertebral deformities can be managed by thoracoscopic anterior discectomy or thoracoscopic hemivertebrectomy, depending on the type of correction required. The chapter outlines the operation room setup, positioning of the patient, special instruments required for the procedure and the port placement sites. The indications, contraindications, preoperative considerations and technical considerations for thoracoscopic anterior discectomy and fusion, as well as thoracoscopic hemivertebrectomy have been listed. Possible procedural variations have been outlined. The surgical procedures for both the procedures thoracoscopic anterior discectomy as well as thoracoscopic hemivertebrectomy have been explained separately using sequential high quality images.