Incidence of radiographic and clinically significant pneumothorax or hemothorax after thoracic discectomy via mini-open lateral retropleural approach without prophylactic chest tube placement.
Nima AlanS Harrison FarberJames J ZhouSteve S ChoLuke K O'NeillRobert K DuganKate L PettyJuan Pablo Leal IsazaJay D TurnerLaura A SnyderJuan S UribePublished in: Journal of neurosurgery. Spine (2024)
Most patients who undergo thoracic discectomy via the MO-LRP approach do not develop clinically significant PTX or HTX. PTX and HTX in this patient population should be treated with a chest tube only when there are postoperative clinical and radiographic indications.