Thoracic outlet síndrome and surgical treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Thoracic outlet compression syndromes, sometimes poorly defined, are characterized by cervicobrachialgia as the main symptom. They are due to compression of the lower trunk of the brachial plexus or the subclavian vessels, structures that cross the thoracic outlet. No diagnostic technique has been established and its treatment includes physiotherapy, medications such as analgesics and, in some cases, surgery.

Objective: To demonstrate the effectiveness of surgical treatment of patients diagnosed, according to their etiology, with different thoracic outlet syndromes.

Methods: A study was carried out on 131 patients diagnosed as thoracic outlet syndromes, treated with symptoms related to these in a period of 12 years, and who underwent surgery. The causal diagnosis was based on the symptoms, radiological, ultrasonographic and electromyographic studies and assessment of risk factors.

Results: The most frequent age was the third decade of life and the female sex was more affected. As a causal agent, the supernumerary cervical ribs and the costiform processes were present in a higher percentage, constituting the anterior and median scalenotomy the most performed surgical procedure.

Conclusions: The neurological symptoms evidenced nerve compression in most cases, and the results evaluated as good in the most frequent, demonstrating that the surgical treatment of this pathology is an essential part of them.