2000 Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 47-54
We developed a new technique for laminoplastic surgery for thoracic spine by utilizing a high-speed drill and titanium miniplates. A 51-year-old woman suffered thoracic pain followed by paraparesis. Both MRI and CT scans disclosed irregularly-shaped extra and intramedullary cystic lesion from Th-7 to Th-9. At surgery, en bloc laminotomy was performed from Th-6 to Th-10. By using a high-speed drill, bilateral laminotomy was able to be carried out. Because at the thoracic level, the lamina overlie each other and the width is very narrow, careful bone drilling is necessary. The cystic lesion was found to be the result of arachnoiditis possibly caused by previous myelography for lumbar disc disease. The cystic wall was fully opened. The lamina was replaced in situ and fixed with titanium miniplates for skull fixation. Over a follow up period of 10 months, the patient has been doing well with good spinal stabilization. This technique can be used as one of the alternatives for thoracic laminoplastic surgery.
