Transforaminal Endoscopic Foraminoplasty and Discectomy for the Treatment of a Thoracic Disc Herniation

Transforaminal endoscopic spine surgery has emerged internationally as a minimally invasive technique that can be performed in an awake patient in the outpatient setting. Advances in high-definition endoscopic camera technologies as well as the availability of specialty graspers, reamers, drills, and other instruments that can be used down a working channel endoscope have made a myriad of spine diseases accessible to the minimally invasive spine surgeon. The major challenge inherent in the surgical treatment of thoracic disc disease is that the disc herniation is often ventral to the spinal cord. The transforaminal approach and the angled endoscopic camera are an ideal combination for creating a technical advantage to accessing thoracic disc disease.