Abstract: Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of posterior laminectomy and lateral bone fusion on multi-segments thoracic disk herniation. Methods 18 patients with multi-segments thoracic disk herniation accepted the posterior laminectomy and lateral bone fusion. They were followed up with JOA score and Frankel system. Results The mean of operative time was 190.6 min with a mean of blood loss of 806.3 ml. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage happened in 3 patients, and recovered after treatment. Wound infection occurred in 1 case and recovered after applied sensitive antibiotics. The Cobb's angle decreased after surgery (P<0.05). Compared with the preoperative, the JOA score improved 3 months later and at the last follow-up (P<0.05). During the follow-up, there was no fixation loosen, displacement and spinal instability happened. Conclusion Patients with multi-segments thoracic disk herniation may benefit full spinal decompression and a stable spinal sagittal alignment from posterior laminectomy and lateral bone fusion.

Key words: thoracic vertebra, thoracic disk herniation, posterior decompression