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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1976

Reoperation for recurrent thoracic outlet syndrome.

Recurrent thoracic outlet syndrome that requires reoperation accounts for 1% of first rib resections. Symptoms in a series of 30 patients were mainly neurological and consisted of pain and paresthesia involving the neck, shoulder, arm, and hand and were severe and unrelenting. Recurrence of symptoms ensued from one month to seven years following initial rib resection, with the majority appearing within the first three months. Nerve conduction velocities were diminished to an average of 51 m per second, well below the normal of 72 m per second. Reoperation was required after a period of extensive physiotherapy and muscle relaxants. The high posterior thoracoplasty approach is recommended for all reoperations, as it gives better exposure to achieve safe neurolysis of the plexus and complete excision of the regenerated periosteum and posterior rib remnant, which were present in almost all patients. Results of reoperation were gratifying, and postoperative nerve conduction velocities were improved to an everage of 66 m per second.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The thoracic outlet: true syndromes, disputed syndrome (TOS, thoracic outlet syndrome). Current status 1991].

There are 5 syndromes involving the thoracic outlet. The first four, although not well known, especially the first two, are authentic; they are: 1) arterial, due to a well formed cervical rib or to an incompletely formed first rib; 2) neurological, related to the fibrous band associated with a rudimentary cervical rib or a giant transverse process of C7; 3) venous, namely "effort thrombosis"; 4) late post-traumatic, secondary to a fracture of the clavicle. The study of these four syndromes prepares the reader to that of the controversial fifth syndrome, which is entirely subjective, made only of symptoms. The fifth syndrome, by very far the most frequent in the literature, called "scalenus anticus syndrome" in the past, now called "thoracic outlet syndrome" or "TOS" by North-American authors, has two varieties, one where hypotonic shoulder muscles, mostly in women, respond well to specific and simple exercises, and one where there is an accident in the background, a whiplash type of injury in most cases. Despite the fact that TOS is made only of symptoms, "diagnosing" it has led to scores of operations, scalenotomy in the past, now mostly resection of the first rib, sometimes scalenectomy. Huge surgical statistics, that deal mostly with resection of the first rib, have not proven the authenticity of this second variety of the 5th syndrome. Surgeons report only early surgical results, and the results claimed are invariably impressive. Never is there a statistic about return to work after surgery. First rib resection can be dangerous and it can be complicated by tardy permanent brachial plexopathy. One very recent European study proves the discrepancy between the early appreciation of the results by the surgeon and the late appreciation by independent observers.

Cervical Rib Syndrome↗
PubMed1978

Clinical application of Doppler ultrasonography in the thoracic outlet syndrome.

Difficulties in diagnosing the thoracic outlet syndrome prompted a pilot study of noninvasive Doppler ultrasonography in 160 thoracic outlets of healthy volunteers. Encouraged by the results we applied the technique to the clinical evaluation of flow disturbances during various provocative maneuvers. Ninety-four thoracic outlets were examined; of these, 32 were operated upon. Severe flow occlusion which was detected by Doppler ultrasonography reproduced symptoms of which the patients had originally complained. All patients were relieved of their symptoms, and only five had minor flow disturbances after resection of the first rib and scalenotomy. Resection of cervical ribs was carried out in seven of nine patients with this anomaly. Doppler ultrasonography was found to be a most valuable diagnostic modality and its wider application in this field is recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The choice of approach in the surgical therapy of the superior thoracic outlet syndrome].

The symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) may be improved or cured either by physiotherapy or by a surgical operation. The choice of patients to be submitted to surgery must be performed on the basis of clinical picture and of non invasive and invasive assessment. Moreover the surgeon must choose the best procedure to relieve symptoms. The Authors on the basis of their experience and of a literature review refer to the various surgical approaches used in the treatment of TOS.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Management of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Twelve hundred patients with thoracic outlet syndrome have been managed between 1973 and 1978. Diagnosis was based on a careful history and detailed physical examination designed to establish the presence of brachial plexus irritation. The cervical spine was evaluated and nerve conduction studies were obtained. All patients were initially treated with a comprehensive physical therapy program. One hundred thirteen patients had transaxillary first rib resections. Eighty percent of surgical patients had complete relief of symptoms and 13 percent were improved. Seven percent were unimproved and none was made worse by operation. There were no operative deaths. Complications occurred in 3 percent, and there were no recurrences requiring operation. This management plan reduced the number of patients requiring operation to 9.4 percent while maintaining satisfactory surgical results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Thoracic outlet syndrome in whiplash injury.

Thirty-five cases of thoracic outlet syndrome complicating whiplash or cervical strain injury were studied. Thirty cases had confirmation by the demonstration of slowed ulnar nerve conduction velocity (UNCV) through the thoracic outlet. Two distinct groups of patients were found. An acute group, seen an average of 3 1/2 months post injury, had severe neck pain with often mild or incidental thoracic outlet syndrome. A chronic group, with symptoms persisting more than 2 years after cervical injury, often had thoracic outlet symptoms as the predominant complaint. This study suggests that the arm aches and parethesias seen in association with both acute and chronic cervical strain injury are most often secondary to thoracic outlet syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The thoracic outlet syndrome.

Thirty-one patients with thoracic outlet syndrome have been studied in detail in the neurological and vascular clinics at this hospital. The patients were classified on the basis of their presenting symptoms into four groups--predominantly vascular, neurological, combined vascular and neurological, and pain and paraesthesiae alone. The majority of patients had radiological abnormalities and all had structural lesions in the superior thoracic aperture seen at operation. All operations were carried out through a standard supraclavicular approach, enabling the compressive structures to be visualized. This would not have been the case had the commoner trans-axillary approach for first rib resection been followed and in fact none of the operations included removal of the first rib. The results of operation were evident in our patients with a marked relief in their vascular symptoms, their pain and paraesthesiae and a slight but definite improvement in muscle bulk and power.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Thoracic outlet syndrome.

Eleven patients with vascular sequelae of thoracic outlet syndrome were operated on at the University of California, SanFrancisco, during the past 17 years. Five patients presented with episodes of ischemia of the arm and hand secondary to microemboli released from subclavian arterial lesions produced by chronic compression at the thoracic outlet. Treatment consisted of arterial reconstruction, removal of the compressive structure, and cervical sympathectomy to relieve or lessen distal ischemia. Four of the five patients had good or excellent results; one patient required amputation of the forearm. The results were inversely proportional to the extent of distal arterial embolic occlusions present at the time of surgical treatment. Six patients presented with symptoms of chronic venous hypertension. Four of the six had subclavian venous thrombosis and were treated by transaxillary resection of the first rib to decompress the collateral veins within the costoclavicular space. All four were symptomatically improved. Two patients had venous hypertension due to extrinsic compression of the subclavian vein. One patient became asymptomatic and the other was markedly improved after resection for external compression. In this small series transaxillary resection of the first rib has resulted in symptomatic improvement in chronic venous hypertension of the arm.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Radiodiagnosis of the thoracic outlet syndrome].

The results of roentgenological investigations in thoracic outlet syndrome are summarized. The method for defining the width of a costoclavicular cleft and its diagnostic importance in 72 patients operated on is described. A role of anomalies of the osteofibrous formations in the development of neurovascular compression is noted.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Rehabilitation of patients with thoracic outlet syndrome.

A series of physical therapy protocols is proposed for patients with thoracic outlet syndrome. The anatomic findings dictating certain physical therapeutic approaches are outlined. General principles of physical therapy that stem from these findings are suggested, and a specific protocol for the physical therapy regimen is given. An appropriate physical therapy program for thoracic outlet syndrome patients with symptoms of mild-to-moderate severity can avoid early surgery. Degradation of symptoms or invalidating functional compromise indicates a referral to surgery. Physical therapy cannot replace surgery in severe or complicated forms of thoracic outlet syndrome with vascular or neurologic compromise.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Continuing experience with transaxillary excision of the first rib for thoracic outlet syndrome.

The results of transaxillary excision of the first rib for thoracic outlet syndrome are reported. During a 3-year period, 40 transaxillary rib resections were performed on 32 patients. The symptoms in 33 limbs were completely relieved and in a further four symptoms were improved. These results confirm that transaxillary excision of the first rib is the operation of choice in the management of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[New approaches in diagnosis and therapy of the thoracic outlet syndrome].

The results of diagnosis and treatment of the thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) in 35 patients have been analysed. Compression of the subclavicular neurovascular bundle at the site of its outlet from the thoracic cavity was most frequent cause of TOS development. A degree of compression was assessed quantitatively by the data of a modified functional dynamic test. The modified operation, including resection of the I rib (and of a cervical one in its presence), scalene muscle, musculus pectoralis minor, periarterial sympathectomy of the subclavicular artery, was performed. In narrow (less than 1.5 cm) costoclavicular space, the II rib was additionally resected. An excellent long-term result is indicative of the effectiveness of the method.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Management of thoracic outlet syndrome.

This overall management program for thoracic outlet compression syndrome is based upon experience with 153 extremities in 149 patients and the results of others. The following conclusions are documented and discussed. 1) Diagnosis is based chiefly upon history; physical signs are inconstant and often absent. 2) Major vascular problems are unusual; angiography is not always necessary. 3) Electromyography is not always critical but does aid in diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. 4) Non-operative treatment relieves most patients; operative decompression is indicated for a minority. 5) Transxillary first rib resection, with removal of cervical rib is the best operation. 6) Carpal tunnel decompression should be done concomitantly when needed. 7) Operation is relatively safe.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Modern concepts of diagnosis and treatment of the thoracic outlet syndrome.

Neurovascular compression at the thoracic outlet results from one or several local anatomic abnormalities, all involving the first rib to some extent. The pathologic processes produced involve syndromes usually affecting the ulnar nerve, the subclavian artery, or the subclavian vein. The majority of these cases should be managed in a nonoperative fashion and surgical treatment reserved for patients who are unresponsive to these measures. Initial conservative nonoperative treatment with physiotherapy and patient education produces satisfactory results in 70 per cent of the patients. Operative intervention, when necessary, results in satisfactory results in 90 per cent of the cases and requires first rib resection in conjunction with repair of all other attendant mechanisms. The anterior operative approach is strongly recommended whenever vascular repair is contemplated.

Arm↗
PubMed1977

The thoracic outlet syndrome as a cause of aneurysm formation, thrombosis, and embolization.

The thoracic outlet syndrome may have a serious vascular component consisting of subclavian artery aneurysm with possible thrombosis and embolization which can result in severe ischemic symptoms in the upper extremity, gangrene, amputation, and even hemiplegia. Four cases of subclavian artery aneurysm in association with thoracic outlet syndrome are presented. Two of the patients required surgical intervention because of thrombosis and embolization, while the other two had prophylactic surgical procedure to prevent those complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Vascular manifestations of the thoracic outlet syndrome. A surgical urgency.

Although the vascular manifestations of the thoracic outlet syndrome are infrequent, their presence is an ominous portent for the affected limb. The cases of two recent patients indicate the importance of prompt recognition, urgent angiography, and definitive surgery. Regarding the surgical procedure, we used a two-incision approach-supraclavicular and intraclavicular-combining scalenotomy, resections of the cervical rib if present, the first thoracic rib, and the subclavian artery with retroclavicular interposition woven Dacron graft reconstruction. Preceding graft replacement, a Fogarty catheter thrombectomy of the distal brachial artery tree is done with completion arteriography to ensure freedom from retained distal thrombus. First rib resection is easily performed; subsequent vascular repair is also carried out, using this approach. We did not add sympathectomy to these cases, believing that early recognition and treatment will obviate its necessity. Follow-up has supported the efficacy of the treatment plan as presented.

Adult↗