RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Management of Thoracic Disc Pathology via the Lateral Approach: Advances Using the Minimally Invasive Approach and Navigation JF International Journal of Spine Surgery JO Int J Spine Surg FD International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery SP S44 OP S52 DO 10.14444/8235 VO 16 IS S1 A1 Saman Shabani A1 Praveen V. Mummaneni A1 Andrew Chan A1 Jeremy Huang A1 Nitin Agarwal A1 Vedat Deviran A1 Dean Chou YR 2022 UL http://ijssurgery.com//content/16/S1/S44.abstract AB Historically, thoracic disc pathology has been treated via open thoracotomy or open posterior costotransversectomy or lateral extracavitary approaches. However, these approaches are associated with approach-related morbidity. With advancement in such minimally invasive approaches as the lateral interbody fusion coupled with navigation, the morbidity of approaching anterior thoracic spinal pathology may be reduced. There are subtleties and nuances in the thoracic approaches that are different from the lateral lumbar interbody approaches. We discuss our technique of the minimally invasive approach to the thoracic spine, management of the rib and pleura, and incorporation of navigation into the procedure.