Simultaneous anterior-postenior thoracolumbar spine surgery

The purpose of this article is to report our experience with simultaneous a nterior and posterior approach spine surgery. The patient is placed in the decubitus position. Two teams of spine surgeons simultaneously perform surg ical approaches, decompression, arthrodesis, and instrumentation. No reposi tioning, repreparing, or redraping is necessary. Twelve patients with varyi ng lesions underwent this procedure. This technique is presented as an alte rnative to the sequential single-staged anterior and posterior procedure an d the two-staged procedures performed under separate anesthetics. Although no statistical significance can be concluded, we believe a larger series wi ll demonstrate that operative time is decreased, potential risks of reposit ioning are avoided, and superior exposure and mobilization of spinal elemen ts are afforded. Exposure, decompression, and stabilization posteriorly is feasible in the decubitus position.