Thoracic endoscopic discectomy is gaining more popularity. Accessing the
thoracic spine through a small skin incision rather than large exposures required for the
traditional costotrasversectomy approach, the endoscopic technique alleviates pain and
neurological symptoms and improves patient outcomes by targeting the compressive
pathology directly. In this chapter, the author reviews the indications for the procedure,
the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and its technical caveats by illustrating the
application of endoscopic instruments and visualization systems. Preoperative
evaluation, including advanced imaging techniques, is crucial for accurate diagnosis
and surgical planning. Further, the author demonstrates the procedure's advantages,
such as reduced tissue trauma, decreased blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and faster
recovery than traditional open surgery. With appropriate patient selection and skilled
surgical expertise, thoracic endoscopic discectomy is capable of managing thoracic disc
herniation with comparable clinical outcomes compared to open techniques without
collateral tissue trauma.
Keywords: Thoracic endoscopic discectomy, Thoracic disc herniation, Collateral tissue trauma, Endoscopic instruments, Visualization systems.
