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Abstract Objective To define the effectiveness of fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous vertebral biopsy. Methods Prospective study of patients with vertebral destruction syndrome at one institution. Percutaneous transpedicular vertebral biopsies guided by fluoroscopy were performed, and bony tissue and intervertebral disc tissue were extracted; histopathology and microbiology studies were also performed. Age, sex, vertebral segment, neurologic status, and biopsy and culture results were analyzed. Results The average age of the patients was 53.8 years (range: 2 to 83 years), and the main spine segment was the lumbar segment in 62% of the cases. According to the impairment scale of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), preoperatively, 49% of the patients were classified as Asia E, and 100% had pain. Definitive etiology was identified in 83% of the sample. The etiology was grouped into three categories: infectious, neoplasia, and degenerative (osteoporotic). The infectious group was composed of 36% of the patients, in whom Staphylococcus aureus was the most common agent identified; in 34.9% the sample, the etiology was neoplastic, most commonly multiple myeloma and metastatic disease due to prostate cancer; 21.7% of the patients had osteoporosis. The average surgical time was of 47.5 minutes, the average blood loss was of 10 mL. No complications were reported. Conclusion Transpedicular percutaneous biopsy guided by fluoroscopy had an effectiveness of 83% for the etiological diagnosis of vertebral destruction syndrome in the present series. It should be considered a useful minimally-invasive procedure, which is easy, economical, and reproducible, with low risk of short- and long-term complications.

Resumo Objetivo Definir a eficácia da biópsia vertebral percutânea guiada por fluoroscopia. Métodos Este é um estudo prospectivo de pacientes com síndrome de destruição vertebral em uma instituição. Os pacientes foram submetidos a biópsias vertebrais transpediculares percutâneas guiadas por fluoroscopia, com obtenção de tecido ósseo e tecido do disco intervertebral, para estudo histopatológico e microbiológico. Idade, sexo, segmento vertebral, estado neurológico, e resultados de biópsia e de cultura foram analisados. Resultados A idade média dos pacientes foi de 53,8 anos (gama: 2 a 83 anos), e o principal local acometido da coluna foi a segmento lombar, em 62% dos casos. Segundo a escala de disfunção da American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), no pré-operatório, 49% dos pacientes foram classificados como ASIA E, e 100% apresentavam dor. A etiologia definitiva foi identificada em 83% dos pacientes. A etiologia foi agrupada em três categorias: infecciosa, neoplásica, e degenerativa (osteoporótica). O grupo infeccioso era composto por 36% dos pacientes da amostra, e Staphylococcus aureus foi o agente mais comumente identificado; em 34,9% dos casos, a etiologia era neoplásica, principalmente mieloma múltiplo e doença metastática por câncer de próstata; 21,7% dos pacientes apresentavam osteoporose. O tempo cirúrgico médio foi de 47,5 minutos, e a perda média de sangue foi de 10 mL. Nenhuma complicação foi relatada. Conclusão Nesta série, a biópsia percutânea transpedicular guiada por fluoroscopia teve 83% de eficácia no diagnóstico etiológico da síndrome de destruição vertebral. Este procedimento minimamente invasivo deve ser considerado bom, fácil, barato e reprodutível, com baixo risco de complicações em curto e longo prazos.

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BACKGROUND: Herniated thoracic intervertebral disc is a rare cause of spinal cord compression. Its frequency varies from 0.15% to 1.7% of all disc herniations, and produces symptoms in 0.5% to 0.8%. CLINICAL CASES: Case 1. A 50-year-old woman, with pain and burning sensation in left hemithorax of four months of onset. It was treated as a herpetic syndrome, with no improvement. She was seen after thirteen days of exacerbation of clinical symptoms. The physical examination showed asymmetric paraparesis, lower left pelvic limb 1/5, and right pelvic limb 3/5¸ sensory level T8, with left Babinski positive. A thoracic disc herniation in space T8-T9 was diagnosed. CASE 2: A 55-year-old patient with a history of presenting pain in lumbar area of 5 years onset. She also had radicular pain that radiated to the right pelvic limb, with intensity 10/10 on a Visual Analogue Scale. Her physical examination showed muscle strength 5/5, with normal sensitivity in all dermatomes and tendon reflexes, and a positive right Babinski. Thoracic disc herniation T7-T8 level was diagnosed. DISCUSSION: Due to anatomical conditions that define this type of hernia, the extracavitary posterolateral approach should be the recommended surgical procedure when the simultaneously performed anterior decompression and fixation with posterior instrumentation are the treatments proposed. CONCLUSION: Despite the different anatomical structures of this special area, it was possible to obtain satisfactory results for both clinical cases.

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