Thoracic spine surgery

Treatment

Conditions in the thoracic (middle) spine are rare compared with cervical and lumbar conditions.

About the treatment

Conditions

Conditions in the thoracic (middle) spine are rare compared with cervical and lumbar conditions. We have a special interest in treating these rare conditions which often require a specialized skillset. These conditions include deformities such as scoliosis and kyphosis.

Thoracic spinal cord compression is an often missed but serious condition caused by disc herniations, bone spurs, and calcifications that often require complex reconstruction to be able to relieve the pressure without moving or harming the spinal cord.

Symptoms

Symptoms include pain in the mid back as well as radiating pain into the chest and abdomen, difficulty walking, numbness and weakness in the legs, and urinary difficulties such as incontinence. 

Workup

Workup includes in-person clinical evaluation, and often a combination of diagnostic imaging such as  X-rays including scoliosis X-rays, MRI, and CT.