What is thoracic outlet compression syndrome?
What is thoracic outlet compression syndrome?
Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib (thoracic outlet) are compressed. This can cause pain in your shoulders and neck and numbness in your fingers.
What is a scalenectomy?
Scalenectomy. In a scalenectomy, the scalene muscles—which pass through the thoracic outlet—are removed to reduce compression on the nerves, arteries, and veins in the area. This helps to reduce pain and prevent blood clots in people with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.
What is disputed thoracic outlet syndrome?
Disputed NTOS is a clinical diagnosis that depends on scalene muscle tenderness and provocative maneuvers eliciting pain and paresthesias in the affected extremity as it lacks objective EDX evidence. It is most often a diagnosis of exclusion.
Is thoracic outlet syndrome forever?
Can thoracic outlet syndrome improve on its own? No. For people who have mild TOS, lifestyle changes may be enough to make the symptoms go away. But more serious TOS should be treated by a doctor as soon as possible.
What do you need to know about thoracic outlet syndrome?
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) refers to a group of clinical syndromes caused by congenital or acquired compression of the brachial plexus or subclavian vessels as they pass through the superior thoracic aperture . Clinical presentation will depend on the structure compressed and the degree of compression:
What is compression of the neurovascular bundle in the thoracic outlet?
Patients with symptoms from compression of the neurovascular bundle in the thoracic outlet are described as having thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), which is best thought of as three conditions classified according to which structures are involved.
How is MR imaging useful in patients with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome?
MR imaging is useful in patients with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome particularly in evaluating the brachial plexus and surrounding structures. Imaging findings of thoracic outlet syndrome include 10: Treatment of arterial thoracic outlet syndrome is surgical intervention. Treatment is required to treat or prevent acute thromboembolic events.
When to consider thoracic outlet decompression surgery?
If surgery is not suitable for you or does not relieve your symptoms, you will want to consider ongoing medication to manage pain. If arterial compression is diagnosed, a surgery called thoracic outlet decompression is the next step. Depending on the damage to the artery, an arterial bypass may be part of this surgery.
What is the recovery time for thoracic outlet surgery?
This surgery takes about two hours to complete and requires a one- to three-day stay in the hospital. Recovery can take several weeks, during which your doctor may recommend restricting activities.
What is venous thoracic outlet?
DEFINITION Venous thoracic outlet syndrome (vTOS), also known as effort thrombosis or Paget-von Schrotter syndrome, involves repetitive subclavian venous compression that leads to endothelial injury and intermittent stasis that ultimately contributes to acute thrombosis of the axillosubclavian venous system.
What is thoracic outlet surgery?
Thoracic outlet syndrome surgery is a last ditch effort used to combat severe chronic upper back pain and related neurological symptoms diagnosed as stemming from a TOS condition.
What is the anatomy of the thoracic outlet?
Anatomical terminology. The thoracic outlet is the lower opening of the thoracic cavity whose edges are the lowest ribs. It is closed by the diaphragm, which separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.