Minimally Invasive Lateral Approach to Thoracic and Lumbar Spine: For Discectomy and Corpectomy for Trauma, Tumor, Infection, and Deformity

Anterior access to the spinal column is a powerful tool in the armamentarium of spine surgeons. Direct decompression of anteriorly based compressive pathology is expedient at the level of the spinal cord, conus medullaris, and cauda equina. Anterior column reconstruction provides ideal restoration of alignment and provides robust stability and longevity of the fusion construct. Traditional transthoracic, thoracoabdominal, and retroperitoneal approaches to the spine involve large incisions and considerable morbidity. Minimally invasive surgical approaches to the thoracic and lumbar spine are safe and effective with potentially decreased morbidity. This chapter discusses the indications, technique, and outcomes of minimally invasive surgical lateral approach to the thoracolumbar spine for the treatment of disk and vertebral level pathologies including disk herniation, fracture, infection, tumor, and deformity.