Video-assisted thoracoscopic spinal surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive approach for access to the anterior pathology of the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine, and has evolved since the early 1990s, especially in the United States and Germany [7,8]. Various lesions around the thoracic spine are increasingly diagnosed and treated using thoracoscopy [2,3,9]. VATS is currently indicated in a large number of processes and injuries. Thoracoscopy has been used in simple procedures such as biopsy and sympathectomy, and is now widely utilized for herniated discs, neoplastic or infectious lesions affecting the spine/disc space, corrective surgery for scoliosis, and removal and reconstruction of the vertebral body [1,3,9].

Limitations of thoracoscopy include lack of familiarity with the surgical anatomy, surgical environment, and instrumentation, the need for skilled assistance, and the steep learning curve. Nonetheless, several surgeons have gained considerable experience [3,4].

Although reconstruction of the vertebral body using thoracoscopy is not widely used, especially in fractures of the thoracolumbar junction, considerable advances have been made and many surgical treatment results have been reported [1,2,5,6]. The author has performed many thoracoscopic surgeries for fractures of the thoracolumbar junction, including the second lumbar vertebra (L2), and describes his technique and issues related to the surgery.

An 18-year-old female was seen in the emergency room because of back pain and paraparesis (grade 4) after a fall from the fifth floor. She had an unstable burst fracture of the L2 body. The vertebra was severely damaged; both pedicles were destroyed, with the fragments protruding into the spinal canal and pressing firmly against the nerves (Fig. 1).The posterior approach was adopted in this emergency, and decompression was performed using laminectomy while pushing the broken fragments forward toward the body and using rear screw insertion in L1 and L3. Three days later, we removed the destroyed L2 body with the thoracic endoscope, inserted the expandable cage, and reconstructed the body. We inserted the MACs-TL plate system and restored the torn diaphragm. Routine postoperative images confirmed that the reconstruction of the L2 body was successful and that lumbar lordosis was well-maintained (Fig. 2). The chest tube was removed in 5 days, and the patient left the hospital ambulatory 15 days after the operation.

Anterior surgery on a lumbar fracture is generally conducted using a retroperitoneal approach [10]. Surgeons usually take the retroperitoneal approach for anterior surgery on L2 fractures [10]. However, based on extensive experience with thoracoscopic surgery on thoracolumbar fractures (T12 or L1), the author has also performed endoscopic surgery on L2 fractures. Although it is known that thoracoscopy can reach to L3, reconstructive spinal surgery on L2 fractures requires insertion of screws for the front plate into L3; therefore, reconstructive surgery of an L2 body fracture is probably the limit for thoracoscopic surgery. Sufficient experience with open surgery at the thoracolumbar junction is necessary. It is difficult to attempt endoscopic surgery on L2 without prior surgical experience on T12 and L1, which require the least dissection of the diaphragm. A significant procedure in thoracoscopic surgery for thoracolumbar fracture is dissection of the diaphragm (transthoracic transdiaphragmatic approach) [1,3-6]. L2 is entirely surrounded by the psoas muscle and lies under the diaphragm. Control of both the psoas muscle and the diaphragm is essential to be able to operate on L2 (Fig. 3). Thus, sufficient practice on T12 and L1 is recommended for the beginner. It is essential to make a long incision in the diaphragm and expose the thick psoas muscle up to L3 with sufficient dissection. The surgeon should also be experienced in restoring the diaphragm using an endoscope.

When an inexperienced surgeon inserts a port to make a working channel in the early stage of an operation, in most cases the port is near the retroperitoneal space instead of entering the thoracic cavity. To prevent this problem, the surgeon should first construct the optical channel, and then push downward with a finger to dissect the area where the diaphragm is attached to the rib (Fig. 4). At the same time, a working channel is constructed while externally touching the finger that entered through the optical channel. When the working channel is completed, the port does not enter the retroperitoneal space but can now access the thoracic cavity. Because a large incision is made, it is important to properly restore the diaphragm to avoid pneumonia or herniation of the stomach or large intestine.

We have performed reconstructive surgery using VATS in 11 cases of L2 fracture in the past 10 years. This paper demonstrates that the operation is feasible by illustrating a series of successful surgical treatments, and describes the technique. More surgical results will enable reporting of more clinical and radiological features, as well as a comparison between thoracoscopic cases and cases treated with traditional open surgery.