A Novel Surgical Technique for Management of Giant Central Calcified Thoracic Disk Herniations: A Dual Corridor Method Involving Tubular Transthoracic/Retropleural Approach Followed by a Posterior Transdural Diskectomy

BACKGROUND Thoracic disk herniations (TDHs) represent only 0.15% to 1.8% of surgically managed disk herniations but have posed a particular challenge to spine surgeons. Numerous surgical approaches have been cited in the literature with varying degrees of success, technical complexity, and complication profiles. OBJECTIVE To report a case of a combined lateral retropleural and dorsal transdural approach for complex thoracic discectomy. METHODS In this report, we describe a combined lateral/retropleural and posterior transdural approach for a patient with a giant calcified TDH that was not amenable to safe removal using a single approach. RESULTS In complex situations such as this, a dual corridor approach allows for improved visualization and maximal resection opportunity and opens up yet another option to address recalcitrant TDH. CONCLUSION The staged dual corridor approach is safe and represents a further surgical option for extremely difficult TDH.

Evaluation of the corridor method for oak (Quercus sp.) cultivation using research objects in the Mircze and Kościan Forest Districts as an example

The corridor method of oak (Quercus sp) cultivation is an old, forgotten silvicultural method. It was developed around the turn of the 19th and 20th century on the south-eastern borders of Poland (Podole, Wołyń) and Russia and made use of other species such as hornbeam, linden and birch as a cover for oak, which is a tree species sensitive to frosts. The nowadays recurring phenomenon of oak disease initiated a search for silvicultural alternatives and thus the usefulness of reviving the corridor method for oak regeneration was investigated by examining existing tree stands established in this way. Our research plots were located in five young stands and two in mature as well as old stands. In the stands of the 2nd and 3rd age classes, the density of oaks was observed to be 1500–3500/ha, which accounted for 30–50%. The density of oak in old stands (7th age class) was similar to model-predicted values. Furthermore, the corridor method gave very good production results as exemplified by the oak stands growing on the fresh broadleaved site, which had a very high stand quality index. In addition, the species composition was observed to diversify throughout these oak stands’ development, thus supporting arguments for the conservation and preservation of oak-hornbeam forests. To summarise, the prerequisites for the success of the corridor method are systematic cuts of young stands (forest cultures and thickets) to inhibit the growth of accompanying undesired species and limiting the number of grazing animals.