A surgical approach to complex regional pain syndrome with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome in a reoperation patient.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) are two etiologies of chronic pain. TOS is a group of conditions that occur due to compression of the neurovascular structures of the upper extremity while CRPS is a disorder characterized by chronic and unremitting pain. This case highlights the experience of a 22-year-old female who presented following a traumatic injury to her left arm and was initially diagnosed with neurogenic TOS and later CRPS. Over a 10-year-period, she underwent a total of four operations to try and address her debilitating pain. In our third-time reoperation, symptoms of both pathologies nearly completely resolved with extensive neurolysis of the left brachial plexus and application of a scar tissue barrier.

A case report of a patient with severe & debilitating arm pain: Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome and complex regional pain syndrome are two disorders with the potential to cause severe and debilitating long-term pain, typically in an arm or leg. These two disorders are hard to diagnose, and patients can have variable responses to treatment. This case discussed a young woman who has severe pain of her left arm which eventually progress to the point that she had lost all meaningful use of the arm. After 8 years of treatments and four surgeries, she improved and began to regain her arm function.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

ABSTRACT: Thoracic outlet syndrome is a complex syndrome that manifests with symptoms based on the presumed injury or impairment of the neurovascular structures in the thoracic outlet space with its intricate anatomy and pathophysiology. The thoracic outlet is a specific anatomical region with three distinct anatomical spaces - interscalene triangle, the costoclavicular space, and the retro-pectoralis minor space. Thoracic outlet syndrome is classified into neurogenic, venous, and arterial thoracic outlet syndrome and often poses diagnostic challenge to implicate a specific condition or cause. Many cases of thoracic outlet syndrome can be effectively managed through conservative measures, but patients with refractory symptoms may warrant surgical intervention. Modalities such as intramuscular anesthetic and botulinum toxin injections hold promise as diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic procedures. Further research and collaboration are needed to develop algorithms for diagnosis and treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms. This review aims to explore our understanding of thoracic outlet syndrome, with a focus on current evidence and emerging trends.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a group of symptoms caused by the compression of neurovascular structures of the superior thoracic outlet. The knowledge of its clinical presentation with specific symptoms, as well as proper imaging examinations, ranging from plain radiographs to ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, may help achieve a precise diagnosis. Once TOS is recognized, proper treatment may comprise a conservative or a surgical approach.

Management and outcomes of venous thoracic outlet decompression: A transition to the infraclavicular approach.

OBJECTIVE: Venous thoracic outlet syndrome (vTOS) is caused by compression of the subclavian vein at the costoclavicular space, which may lead to vein thrombosis. Current treatment includes thoracic outlet decompression with or without venolysis. However, given its relatively low prevalence, the existing literature is limited. Here, we report our single-institution experience in the treatment of vTOS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent rib resection for vTOS at our institution from 2007 to 2022. Demographic, procedural details, and perioperative and long-term outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 76 patients were identified. The mean age was 36 years. Swelling was the most common symptom (93%), followed by pain (6.6%). Ninety percent of patients had associated deep vein thrombosis, with 99% of these patients starting anticoagulation preoperatively. A total of 91% of patients underwent rib resection via the infraclavicular approach, 2% via the paraclavicular approach (due to a neurogenic component), and 7% via the transaxillary approach. Eighty-three percent of patients had endovascular intervention before or at the time of the rib resection, with catheter-directed thrombolysis (87%), followed by angioplasty (71%) and rheolytic thrombectomy (57%) being the most common interventions. The median time from endovascular intervention to rib resection was 14 days, with 25% at the same admission. The median postoperative stay was 3 days (2-5 days). There was no perioperative mortality or nerve injury. Fourteen percent of patients had postoperative complications, with bleeding complications (12%) being the most common. Waiting more than 30 days between initial endovascular intervention and rib resection was not associated with decreased risk of bleeding complications. Patients were seen postoperatively at 1-month (physical examination) and 6-month (duplex) intervals or for any new or recurrent symptoms. Twenty-two percent of our overall patient population underwent reintervention, most commonly angioplasty (21%). At last follow-up, 97% of subclavian veins were patent, and 93% of patients were symptom free. CONCLUSIONS: Over the last decade, we have transitioned to an infraclavicular approach for isolated vTOS, with low perioperative morbidity and good patency rates. These results support the adoption of the infraclavicular approach with adjunct endovascular techniques as a safe and efficacious treatment of vTOS.

Is the Supraclavicular Approach Effective in Treating Patients with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome?

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a challenging clinical condition in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and health-related quality of life assessment. In this review, the authors provide a description of the clinical approach, surgical management, and longitudinal follow-up for patients with neurogenic, venous, and arterial thoracic outlet syndrome. The review represents the experiences of a high-volume, dedicated thoracic outlet syndrome program, where patients are treated in a multidisciplinary team and operative decompression occurs through primarily a supraclavicular approach. Data supporting the safety and efficacy of this approach are provided, as are clinical care considerations for surgeons treating patients with thoracic outlet syndrome.

Under pressure: a head-to-toe review of vascular compression syndromes.

Vascular compression syndromes are a group of conditions resulting from mechanical compression of blood vessels by adjacent structures leading to compromised blood flow and various associated symptoms. They frequently affect young, otherwise healthy individuals and are often underdiagnosed due to their rarity and vague clinical manifestations. Achieving an accurate diagnosis depends on the integration of clinical presentation and imaging findings. Imaging modalities including color doppler ultrasound, computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, and catheter-directed digital subtraction angiography are essential for diagnosis and management. Dynamic imaging is crucial in eliciting findings due to the positional nature of many of these syndromes. In this paper, we will present a "head-to-toe" overview of vascular compression syndromes including Vascular Eagle Syndrome, Vascular Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Quadrilateral Space Syndrome, Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome, Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome, Renal Artery Entrapment Syndrome, Left Renal Vein Compression/Nutcracker Syndrome, May-Thurner Syndrome, Adductor Canal Syndrome, and Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome. Treatment is variable but typically involves a combination of conservative and surgical management. Surgical approaches focus on decompression of affected neurovascular structures. Endovascular treatment alone is rarely recommended. We aim to equip general radiologists with the knowledge needed to accurately diagnose patients with vascular compression syndromes, allowing for timely treatment.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Index for Turkish-speaking patients with thoracic outlet syndrome.

Background/aim: Considering that there is no specifically designed scale to measure quality of life (QoL) and level of functioning among Turkish-speaking patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), the aim of this study was to adapt the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Index (TOSI) to the Turkish language (TOSI-TR) and analyze its psychometric properties in patients with TOS. Materials and methods: Thirty-nine patients with symptomatic TOS were included in the study. The participants were assessed using the following measures: the QuickDASH, the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC), and a visual analog scale (VAS). The psychometric properties of the TOSI-TR were examined in terms of test-retest reliability, construct validity, convergent validity, and feasibility. Results: The ICC2,1 of the TOSI-TR was 0.949 (95% CI: 0.903-0.973). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value was found to be 0.716 with a significant result for Bartlett's sphericity test (p < 0.001). The TOSI-TR had a one-factor solution explaining 74.05% of the total variance. There was a significant correlation between TOSI-TR scores and QuickDASH (r = 0.762, p < 0.001), WORC (r =0.794, p < 0.001), and VAS (r = 0.663, p < 0.001) scores. The WORC and VAS scores were significant determinants of the TOSI-TR score, explaining 65.3% of the variance. There were no floor or ceiling effects. Conclusion: The TOSI-TR is a reliable, valid, and feasible questionnaire for the QoL and functional status in Turkish-speaking patients with TOS. We recommend this 15-item scale for optimal assessment in patients with TOS.

Current Clinical Concepts: Rehabilitation of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) involves inconsistent symptoms, presenting a challenge for medical providers to diagnose and treat. Thoracic outlet syndrome is defined as a compression injury to the brachial plexus, subclavian artery or vein, or axillary artery or vein occurring between the cervical spine and upper extremity. Three common subcategories are now used for clinical diagnosis: neurogenic, arterial, and venous. Postural position and repetitive motions such as throwing, weightlifting, and manual labor can lead to symptoms. Generally, TOS is considered a diagnosis of exclusion for athletes due to the poor accuracy of clinical testing, including sensitivity and specificity. Thus, determining a definitive diagnosis and reporting injury is difficult. Current literature suggests there is not a gold standard diagnostic test. Rehabilitation has been shown to be a vital component in the recovery process for neurogenic TOS and for arterial TOS and venous TOS in postoperative situations.

Challenges and Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review.

Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS) is caused by brachial plexus compression in the thoracic outlet. It accounts for 85%-95% of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) cases, which may also be caused by compression of the subclavian artery and vein. Compression occurs in the interscalene triangle, costoclavicular space or subpectoralis minor space, with congenital anomalies and repetitive overhead activities as contributing factors. Diagnosis is challenging due to overlapping symptoms with other conditions. Patients commonly report pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in the neck, shoulder and arm, exacerbated by arm elevation. Symptoms related to nTOS may manifest in the distribution of the upper (C5-C6), middle (C7) and lower plexus (C8-T1). Although widely used, provocative tests have varying degrees of sensitivity and specificity and may have high false-positive rates, complicating the diagnosis. Patterns on electrodiagnostic studies provide key diagnostic clues, such as reduced sensory response in the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve and low compound motor action potential in the median nerve. Imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), alongside procedures like diagnostic and therapeutic anterior scalene blocks, assist in identifying anatomical abnormalities and predicting surgical outcomes. Management of nTOS involves lifestyle changes, physical therapy, medication and botulinum toxin injections for symptomatic relief. Surgical options may include supraclavicular, transaxillary and infraclavicular approaches, each offering specific benefits based on patient anatomy and surgeon expertise. Minimally invasive techniques, such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic surgery, enhance exposure and dexterity, leading to better outcomes. Future research should focus on developing precise diagnostic tools, understanding nTOS pathophysiology, standardising diagnostic criteria and surgical approaches, comparing long-term treatment outcomes and exploring preventive measures to improve patient care and quality of life. Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic).

Estimation of the prevalence of isolated inter-scalene compression from simultaneous arterial and venous photoplethysmography in patients referred for suspected thoracic outlet syndrome.

Objective.In patients with suspected thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), diagnosing inter-scalene compression could lead to minimally invasive treatments. During photo-plethysmography, completing a 30 s 90° abduction, external rotation ('surrender' position) by addition of a 15 s 90° antepulsion 'prayer' position, allows quantitative bilateral analysis of both arterial (A-PPG) and venous (V-PPG) results. We aimed at determining the proportion of isolated arterial compression with photo-plethysmography in TOS-suspected patients.Approach.We studied 116 subjects recruited over 4 months (43.3 ± 11.8 years old, 69% females). Fingertip A-PPG and forearm V-PPG were recorded on both sides at 125 Hz and 4 Hz respectively. A-PPG was converted to PPG amplitude and expressed as percentage of resting amplitude (% rest). V-PPG was expressed as percentage of the maximal value (% max) observed during the 'Surrender-Prayer' maneuver. Impairment of arterial inflow during the surrender (As+) or prayer (Ap+) phases were defined as a pulse-amplitude either <5% rest, or <25% rest. Incomplete venous emptying during the surrender (Vs+) or prayer (Vp+) phases were defined as V-PPG values either <70% max, or <87% max.Main results.Of the 16 possible associations of encodings, As - Vs - Ap - Vp- was the most frequent observation assumed to be a normal response. Isolated arterial inflow without venous outflow (As + Vs-) impairment in the surrender position was observed in 10.3% (95%CI: 6.7%-15.0%) to 15.1% (95%CI: 10.7%-20.4%) of limbs.Significance.Simultaneous A-PPG and V-PPG can discriminate arterial from venous compression and then potentially inter-scalene from other levels of compressions. As such, it opens new perspectives in evaluation and treatment of TOS.

Pediatric thoracic outlet syndrome: a systematic review with metadata.

INTRODUCTION: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) typically considered a condition of the adult population; it is often disregarded in children and adolescents due to its limited recognition within the pediatrics. The current study aims to systematically review and provide insights into TOS among pediatric patients. METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were thoroughly searched for English language studies published until March 15th, 2024. The study included those articles focusing on pediatric or adolescent individuals diagnosed with TOS. Data collected from studies encompassed date of publication, number of participants or reported cases, age (years), gender of participants, type of TOS, affected side, type of treatment, surgical approach, bony abnormality, duration of symptoms (months), outcome, and follow-up time duration (months). RESULTS: The current study comprised 33 articles, 21 of which were case reports, 10 of which were case series, and the remaining were cohort studies. In this study, 356 patients were included. Females constituted 234 (65.73%) of the patient population. Among TOS types, neurogenic TOS was found among 201 (56.5%) patients. Sporting-related activity or physical activity was present in 193 (54%) patients, followed by a history of trauma in 27 (7%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients exhibited a higher percentage of vascular TOS than their adult counterparts, with the supraclavicular approach emerging as the preferred treatment method. Sports-related activities were identified as the primary risk factor associated with pediatric TOS.

Analysis of completion intraoperative venography during first rib resection for venous thoracic outlet syndrome.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the impact of completion intraoperative venography on clinical outcomes for axillosubclavian vein (AxSCV) thrombosis owing to venous thoracic outlet syndrome (vTOS). METHODS: We performed a retrospective, single-center review of all patients with vTOS treated with first rib resection (FRR) and intraoperative venography from 2011 to 2023. We reviewed intraoperative venographic films to classify findings and collected demographics, clinical and perioperative variables, and clinical outcomes. Primary end points were symptomatic relief and primary patency at 3 months and 1 year. Secondary end points were time free from symptoms, reintervention rate, perioperative complications, and mortality. RESULTS: Fifty-one AxSCVs (49 patients; mean age, 31.3 ± 12.6 years; 52.9% female) were treated for vTOS with FRR and external venolysis followed by completion intraoperative venography with a mean follow up of 15.5 ± 13.5 months. Before FRR, 32 underwent catheter-directed thrombolysis (62.7%). Completion intraoperative venography identified 16 patients with no stenosis (group 1, 31.3%), 17 with no stenosis after angioplasty (group 2, 33.3%), 10 with residual stenosis after angioplasty (group 3, 19.7%), and 8 with complete occlusion (group 4, 15.7%). The overall symptomatic relief was 44 of 51 (86.3%) and did not differ between venographic classifications (group 1, 14 of 16; group 2, 13 of 17; group 3, 10 of 10; and group 4, 7 of 8; log-rank test, P = .5). The overall 3-month and 1-year primary patency was 42 of 43 (97.7%) and 32 of 33 (97.0%), respectively (group 1, 16 of 16 and 9 of 9; group 2, 16 of 17 and 12 of 13; group 3, 10 of 10, 5 of 5; group 4, primary patency not obtained). There was one asymptomatic rethrombosis that resolved with anticoagulation, and three patients underwent reintervention with venous angioplasty for significant symptom recurrence an average 2.89 ± 1.7 months after FRR. CONCLUSIONS: Our single-center retrospective study demonstrates that FRR with completion intraoperative venography has excellent symptomatic relief and short- and mid-term patency despite residual venous stenosis and complete occlusion. Although completion intraoperative venographic classification did not correlate with adverse outcomes, this protocol yielded excellent results and provides important clinical data for postoperative management. Our results also support a conservative approach to AxSCV occlusion identified after FRR.

Surgical outcomes for occluded venous thoracic outlet syndrome following transaxillary first rib resection.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical decompression via transaxillary first rib resection (TFRR) is often performed in patients presenting with venous thoracic outlet syndrome (VTOS). We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of TFRR based on chronicity of completely occluded axillosubclavian veins in VTOS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective institutional review of all patients who underwent TFRR for VTOS and had a completely occluded axillosubclavian vein between 2003 and 2022. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the time of inciting VTOS event to TFRR acuity of their venous occlusion: <4 weeks, 4 to 12 weeks, and >12 weeks. We evaluated the association of TFRR timing with 1-year outcomes, including patency and symptomatic improvement. We used the χ2 test to compare baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 103 patients underwent TFRR for VTOS with a completely occluded axillosubclavian vein (median age, 30.0 years; 42.7% female; 8.8% non-White), of whom 28 had occlusion at <4 weeks, 36 had occlusion at 4 to 12 weeks, and 39 had occlusion at >12 weeks. Postoperative venogram performed 2 to 3 weeks after TFRR demonstrated that 78.6% in the <4 weeks group, 72.2% in the 4- to 12-weeks group, and 61.5% in the >12 weeks group had some degree of recanalization (P = .76). Postoperative balloon angioplasty was successfully performed in 60 patients with stenosed or occluded axillosubclavian vein at the time of postoperative venogram. At the 10- to 14-month follow-up, 79.2% of the <4 weeks group, 73.3% of the 4- to 12-weeks group, and 73.3% of the >12 weeks group had patent axillosubclavian veins based on duplex ultrasound examination (P = .86). Among patients who underwent postoperative balloon angioplasty, 80.0%, 85.0% and 100% in the <4 weeks, 4- to 12-weeks, and >12 weeks groups respectively demonstrated patency at 10 to 14 months (P = .31). Symptomatic improvement was reported in 95.7% in the <4 weeks group, 96.7% in the 4- to 12-weeks group, and 93.5% in the >12 weeks group (P = .84). CONCLUSIONS: TFRR offers excellent postoperative outcomes for patients with symptomatic VTOS, even in cases of completely occluded axillosubclavian veins, regardless of the chronicity of the occlusion. By 14 months, 95.2% of patients experienced symptomatic improvement, and 75% attained venous patency.

Management of thoracic outlet syndrome in patients with hemodialysis access.

Patients with threatened arteriovenous access are often found to have central venous stenoses at the ipsilateral costoclavicular junction, which may be resistant to endovascular intervention. Stenoses in this location may not resolve unless surgical decompression of thoracic outlet is performed to relieve the extrinsic compression on the subclavian vein. The authors reviewed the management of dialysis patients with central venous lesions at the thoracic outlet, as well as the role of surgical decompression with first-rib resection or claviculectomy for salvage of threatened, ipsilateral dialysis access.

The supraclavicular approach to decompression of the thoracic outlet.

Surgical decompression of the thoracic outlet, along with treatment of the involved nerve or vessel, is the accepted treatment modality when indicated. Although neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is often operated via the axillary approach and venous TOS via the paraclavicular approach, arterial TOS is almost always operated via the supraclavicular approach. The supraclavicular approach provides excellent access to the artery, brachial plexus, phrenic nerve, and the cervical and/or first ribs, along with any bony or fibrous or muscular abnormality that may be causing compression of the neurovascular structures. Even for neurogenic TOS, for which the axillary approach offers good cosmesis, the supraclavicular approach helps with adequate decompression while preserving the first rib. This approach may also be sufficient for thin patients with venous TOS. For arterial TOS, a supraclavicular incision usually suffices for excision of bony abnormality and repair of the subclavian artery.

Thoracic outlet syndrome in women.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is observed more frequently in women, although the exact causes of this sex disparity remain unclear. By investigating the three types of TOS-arterial, neurogenic, and venous-regarding symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, this article aims to shed light on the current understanding of TOS, focusing on its variations in women.