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Review
. 2024 Sep 15;32(18):815-822.
doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-23-00984. Epub 2024 May 10.

Diagnosis and Management of Thoracic Myelopathy

Stephen D Lockey  1 , Julio J Jauregui, Daniel L Cavanaugh, Eugene Y Koh, Francis H T Shen, Steven C Ludwig, Amit S Ratanpal, Anthony K Chiu
Affiliations
Review

Diagnosis and Management of Thoracic Myelopathy

Stephen D Lockey et al. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. .

Abstract

Thoracic myelopathy can be a challenging condition to diagnose and treat. Successful outcomes depend on early recondition of the pathology and appropriate surgical referral in cases of progressive neurologic deterioration. The thoracic cord is tethered in kyphosis by the dentate ligaments and contains a tenuous blood supply. These conditions make the thoracic cord particularly susceptible to external compression and ischemic damage. Careful preoperative planning with specific attention to the location and source of thoracic stenosis is critical to successful decompression and complication avoidance. The purpose of this discussion is to outline the common sources of thoracic myelopathy and current recommendations regarding diagnosis and management. The review concludes with an overview of the most up-to-date literature regarding clinical outcomes.

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