Ruptured Thoracic Discs

During the eighteen imionths immllnediately prior to this report the authors have seen five cases of typical ruptured thoracic intervertebral discs. These have been stuidied, treated by surgery, and the resuilts, in contrast to some previous reports,' have been stufficieintly7 gratifying that it is felt they should be reported. There are a fewcharacteristic feattures w-hich mav be fotulnd of initerest in ruptured discs in this particular area. As in those in the cervical area, they may be divided into two distinct classes-(i) those prodtucinig cord pressure with long tract signs, anid (ii) those mlore laterally placed, producing root pressure with typical radicular signs and symlnptoms. In retrospect it is felt that other cases have probably been overlooked by the autlhors, particularlv those cases showN-ing the lateral protrusion w-itlh radictilar signis. In tw-o such cases stuggestive myelographic defects have been founid, but conservative managemleint resulted in evenitual improvement after a protracted period of incapacity. It seemiis quite lprolbable that the inicidence is greater than mllay be inidicated in this aind previously reported series aind, as lhas been emphasized,' occasional instainces of cryptic thoracic anld al)(lominal p)ain miiight be explained on the basis of stuch pathology.