Thoracic osteophytes are a common feature of degenerative spine disease. However, it is rare that osteophytes overgrowth on the anterior surface of thoracic spine results in the compression of vital structures and causes symptoms. A 39-year old man with a two-year history of thoracic and upper abdominal pain was admitted to the neurosurgery ward after having been seen by several specialists. Thoracic spine MRI and CT scans were analyzed. Osteophytes were identified on the anterolateral right side at level T8–T9 and were indicated as a possible cause of the symptoms. After obtaining patient consent, surgery was performed with transthoracic access to the anterolateral surface of the spine. Intraoperatively, the greater splanchnic nerve was released by osteophyte removal. The patient reported improvement of the preoperative symptoms at the six-month and two-year follow-up visit. Postoperative MRI indicated complete osteophyte excision. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of symptomatic sympathetic trunk branch compression by thoracic osteophytes.

胸椎骨赘是退行性脊柱疾病的常见特征。然而，胸椎前表面的骨赘过度生长导致重要结构受压并引起症状的情况很少见。一名 39 岁男性，有 2 年胸痛和上腹痛病史，经多位专科医生诊治后被送入神经外科病房。分析胸椎MRI和CT扫描。在 T8-T9 水平的前外侧右侧发现骨赘，并被认为是症状的可能原因。在获得患者同意后，通过经胸进入脊柱前外侧表面进行手术。术中通过去除骨赘释放内脏大神经。患者在六个月和两年的随访中报告了术前症状的改善。术后 MRI 提示骨赘完全切除。据我们所知，这是第一份关于胸部骨赘导致有症状的交感神经干分支受压的报告。