J Korean Neurosurg Soc.
1994 Feb;23(2):242-247.
An Anterior Surgical Approach to Upper Thoracic Spine
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Inje University College of Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Department of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Inje University College of Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- Anterior exposure to the upper two thoracic vertebrae is technically difficult with transcervical approach. The authors used a transstermal biclavicular approach to the T1 metastatic adenocarcinome in a 47 year old patient. The advantages of this approach are that : 1) it levels the insertion of the sternocleidomastoid muscles intact and prevents the complication of respiratory problem, 2) it gives most wide surgical field among the other similar approaches, and 3) this procedure is not transpleural but transmediastinal approach.