Thoracic Procedures

Thoracic spine decompression is a procedure to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves in the middle portion of the back. Spine decompression surgery is indicated in treating spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal caused by degeneration of the facet joints and the thickening of the ligaments.

Thoracic spine fusion is a surgical procedure in which two or more bones (vertebrae) of the thoracic spine are joined together so as to eliminate the movement between them. The thoracic spine is the center part of the spine and is formed of 12 vertebrae. Thoracic spine fusion is done by placing bone grafts or bone graft substitutes in between the affected vertebrae.

Thoracic Kyphoplasty is an elective surgery in` the mid spine or thoracic region to repair a vertebral compression fracture causing severe back pain and a hunch back appearance condition called kyphosis. Of the several causes for back pain, kyphoplasty is indicated if the patient is suffering from vertebral body compressions, fractures, and osteoporosis.

A spinal tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue surrounding or found within your spinal cord and/or spinal column. Treatment for a spine tumor may be nonsurgical or surgical depending on the characteristics of the tumor and your overall health. Surgery for metastatic tumors thus focuses on improving your quality of life. If surgical resection is possible, your doctor may perform a preoperative embolization procedure.

The human spine provides support to the body allowing you to stand upright, bend, and twist. The spine can be broadly divided into the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. The thoracic spine lies in the mid-back region between the neck and lower back and is protected by the rib cage. It consists of 12 vertebral bones with intervening intervertebral discs. The intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers and protect the spine from strong forces of movement during activities such as jumping, running, and lifting.