Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Questions & Answers

1. Arthur LG, Teich S, Hogan M, Caniano DA, Smead W. Pediatric thoracic outlet syndrome: a disorder with serious vascular complications. J Pediatr Surg. 2008 Jun. 43(6):1089-94. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

2. Sadat U, Weerakkody R, Varty K. Thoracic outlet syndrome: an overview. Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2008 May. 69(5):260-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

3. Kaymak B, Ozçakar L, Inanici F, et al. Forearm bone mineral density measurements in thoracic outlet syndrome. Rheumatol Int. 2008 Jul. 28(9):891-893. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

4. Oates SD, Daley RA. Thoracic outlet syndrome. Hand Clin. 1996 Nov. 12(4):705-18. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

5. Teddy PJ, Johnson RD, Cai RR, Wallace D. Surgery for paediatric thoracic outlet syndrome. J Clin Neurosci. 2011 Nov 1. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

6. Hussain MA, Aljabri B, Al-Omran M. Vascular Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2016 Spring. 28 (1):151-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

7. Cuetter AC, Bartoszek DM. The thoracic outlet syndrome: controversies, overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and recommendations for management. Muscle Nerve. 1989 May. 12(5):410-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

8. Roos DB. Thoracic outlet syndrome is underdiagnosed. Muscle Nerve. 1999 Jan. 22(1):126-9; discussion 137-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

9. Wilbourn AJ. Thoracic outlet syndrome is overdiagnosed. Muscle Nerve. 1999 Jan. 22(1):130-6; discussion 136-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

10. Rayan GM. Lower trunk brachial plexus compression neuropathy due to cervical rib in young athletes. Am J Sports Med. 1988 Jan-Feb. 16(1):77-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

11. Roos DB. Congenital anomalies associated with thoracic outlet syndrome. Anatomy, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Am J Surg. 1976 Dec. 132(6):771-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

12. Mackinnon SE, Novak CB. Thoracic outlet syndrome. Curr Probl Surg. 2002 Nov. 39(11):1070-145. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

13. Esposito MD, Arrington JA, Blackshear MN, Murtagh FR, Silbiger ML. Thoracic outlet syndrome in a throwing athlete diagnosed with MRI and MRA. J Magn Reson Imaging. 1997 May-Jun. 7(3):598-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

14. Rotelli B, Hunter JL, Freischlag JA, Velazquez-Ramirez G. A Rare Case of Bilateral Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Following Neck Injury. Vasc Endovascular Surg. 2022 Aug. 56 (6):605-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

15. Al-Shekhlee A, Katirji B. Spinal accessory neuropathy, droopy shoulder, and thoracic outlet syndrome. Muscle Nerve. 2003 Sep. 28(3):383-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

16. Fujita K, Matsuda K, Sakai Y, Sakai H, Mizuno K. Late thoracic outlet syndrome secondary to malunion of the fractured clavicle: case report and review of the literature. J Trauma. 2001 Feb. 50(2):332-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

17. Upton AR, McComas AJ. The double crush in nerve entrapment syndromes. Lancet. 1973 Aug 18. 2(7825):359-62. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

18. Urschel HC Jr, Razzuk MA. Neurovascular compression in the thoracic outlet: changing management over 50 years. Ann Surg. 1998 Oct. 228(4):609-17. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

19. Urschel HC Jr, Patel AN. Surgery remains the most effective treatment for Paget-Schroetter syndrome: 50 years' experience. Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Jul. 86(1):254-60; discussion 260. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

20. Huang JH, Zager EL. Thoracic outlet syndrome. Neurosurgery. 2004 Oct. 55(4):897-902; discussion 902-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

21. Safran MR. Nerve injury about the shoulder in athletes. Part 2: long thoracic nerve, spinal accessory nerve, burners/stingers, thoracic outlet syndrome. Am J Sports Med. 2004 Jun. 32(4):1063-76. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

22. Nava FB, Barrial M, Martínez A, et al. Thoracic outlet syndrome in adolescents: a case series. Cir Pediatr. 2020 Jul 1. 33 (3):110-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

23. Parziale JR, Akelman E, Weiss AP, Green A. Thoracic outlet syndrome. Am J Orthop. 2000 May. 29(5):353-60. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

24. Rutherford RB, Cronewett JL, Gloviczki P. Vascular Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 2000. 1184-1219.

25. Moore WS, ed. Vascular Surgery: A Comprehensive Review. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1993. 600-3.

26. Garraud T, Pomares G, Daley P, Menu P, Dauty M, Fouasson-Chailloux A. Thoracic outlet syndrome in sport: a systematic review. Front Physiol. 2022. 13:838014. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

27. Atasoy E. Recurrent thoracic outlet syndrome. Hand Clin. 2004 Feb. 20(1):99-105. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

28. Hood DB, Kuehne J, Yellin AE, Weaver FA. Vascular complications of thoracic outlet syndrome. Am Surg. 1997 Oct. 63(10):913-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

29. Wood VE, Twito R, Verska JM. Thoracic outlet syndrome. The results of first rib resection in 100 patients. Orthop Clin North Am. 1988 Jan. 19(1):131-46. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

30. Novak CB, Mackinnon SE, Patterson GA. Evaluation of patients with thoracic outlet syndrome. J Hand Surg [Am]. 1993 Mar. 18(2):292-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

31. Lee PP, Dorsi MJ, Belzberg AJ, Chhabra A. Magnetic resonance neurography-surgical correlation of neurologic thoracic outlet syndrome. Microsurgery. 2011 Nov. 31(8):662-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

32. Chavhan GB, Batmanabane V, Muthusami P, Towbin AJ, Borschel GH. MRI of thoracic outlet syndrome in children. Pediatr Radiol. 2017 Sep. 47 (10):1222-1234. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

33. Machleder HI, Moll F, Nuwer M, Jordan S. Somatosensory evoked potentials in the assessment of thoracic outlet compression syndrome. J Vasc Surg. 1987 Aug. 6(2):177-84. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

34. Komanetsky RM, Novak CB, Mackinnon SE, et al. Somatosensory evoked potentials fail to diagnose thoracic outlet syndrome. J Hand Surg [Am]. 1996 Jul. 21(4):662-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

35. Kim TI, Sarac TP, Orion KC. Intravascular Ultrasound in Venous Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Ann Vasc Surg. 2019 Jan. 54:118-122. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

36. Sanders RJ, Hammond SL. Venous thoracic outlet syndrome. Hand Clin. 2004 Feb. 20(1):113-8, viii. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

37. Melby SJ, Vedantham S, Narra VR, et al. Comprehensive surgical management of the competitive athlete with effort thrombosis of the subclavian vein (Paget-Schroetter syndrome). J Vasc Surg. 2008 Apr. 47(4):809-20; discussion 821. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

38. Machleder HI. Evaluation of a new treatment strategy for Paget-Schroetter syndrome: spontaneous thrombosis of the axillary-subclavian vein. J Vasc Surg. 1993 Feb. 17(2):305-15; discussion 316-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

39. Urschel HC Jr, Razzuk MA. Paget-Schroetter syndrome: what is the best management?. Ann Thorac Surg. 2000 Jun. 69(6):1663-8; discussion 1668-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

40. Patton GM. Arterial thoracic outlet syndrome. Hand Clin. 2004 Feb. 20(1):107-11, viii. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

41. Dale WA, Lewis MR. Management of thoracic outlet syndrome. Ann Surg. 1975 May. 181(5):575-85. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

42. Sucher BM. Ultrasonography-guided osteopathic manipulative treatment for a patient with thoracic outlet syndrome. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2011 Sep. 111(9):543-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

43. Kenny RA, Traynor GB, Withington D, Keegan DJ. Thoracic outlet syndrome: a useful exercise treatment option. Am J Surg. 1993 Feb. 165(2):282-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

44. Lindgren KA. Conservative treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome: a 2-year follow-up. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1997 Apr. 78(4):373-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

45. Novak CB, Collins ED, Mackinnon SE. Outcome following conservative management of thoracic outlet syndrome. J Hand Surg [Am]. 1995 Jul. 20(4):542-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

46. Novak CB. Conservative management of thoracic outlet syndrome. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1996 Apr. 8(2):201-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

47. Peek J, Vos CG, Ünlü Ç, van de Pavoordt HDWM, van den Akker PJ, de Vries JPM. Outcome of Surgical Treatment for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ann Vasc Surg. 2017 Apr. 40:303-326. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

48. Leffert RD. Complications of surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Hand Clin. 2004 Feb. 20(1):91-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

49. Terzis JK, Kokkalis ZT. Supraclavicular approach for thoracic outlet syndrome. Hand (N Y). 2010 Sep. 5(3):326-37. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

50. Siracuse JJ, Johnston PC, Jones DW, et al. Infraclavicular first rib resection for the treatment of acute venous thoracic outlet syndrome. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2015 Oct. 3 (4):397-400. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

51. Vemuri C, Wittenberg AM, Caputo FJ, Earley JA, Driskill MR, Rastogi R, et al. Early effectiveness of isolated pectoralis minor tenotomy in selected patients with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. J Vasc Surg. 2013 Jan 31. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

52. Balci AE, Balci TA, Cakir O, Eren S, Eren MN. Surgical treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome: effect and results of surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2003 Apr. 75(4):1091-6; discussion 1096. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

53. Peek J, Vos CG, Unlu C, van de Pavoordt HD, van den Akker PJ, de Vries JP. Outcome of Surgical Treatment for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ann Vasc Surg. 2016 Sep 22. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

54. Franklin GM, Fulton-Kehoe D, Bradley C, Smith-Weller T. Outcome of surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in Washington state workers' compensation. Neurology. 2000 Mar 28. 54(6):1252-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

55. Orlando MS, Likes KC, Mirza S, Cao Y, Cohen A, Lum YW, et al. A decade of excellent outcomes after surgical intervention in 538 patients with thoracic outlet syndrome. J Am Coll Surg. 2015 May. 220 (5):934-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

56. Foley JM, Finlayson H, Travlos A. A review of thoracic outlet syndrome and the possible role of botulinum toxin in the treatment of this syndrome. Toxins (Basel). 2012 Nov. 4(11):1223-35. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

57. Povlsen B, Hansson T, Povlsen SD. Treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Nov 26. 11:CD007218. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

58. Talutis SD, Ulloa JG, Gelabert HA. Adolescent athletes can get back in the game after surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. J Vasc Surg. 2023 Feb. 77 (2):599-605. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

Daryl A Rosenbaum, MD Associate Professor, Director of Sports Medicine Fellowship, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Daryl A Rosenbaum, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, North Carolina Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Matthew L Silvis, MD Assistant Professor, Departments of Family and Community Medicine and Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine

Matthew L Silvis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Matt Thornburg, MD Staff Physician, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri Health Care at Columbia

Matt Thornburg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Russell D White, MD Clinical Professor of Medicine, Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Truman Medical Center-Lakewood

Russell D White, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Sports Medicine, American Diabetes Association, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sherwin SW Ho, MD Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences, The Pritzker School of Medicine

Sherwin SW Ho, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Arthroscopy Association of North America, Herodicus Society, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine

Disclosure: Received consulting fee from Biomet, Inc. for speaking and teaching; Received grant/research funds from Smith and Nephew for fellowship funding; Received grant/research funds from DJ Ortho for course funding; Received grant/research funds from Athletico Physical Therapy for course, research funding; Received royalty from Biomet, Inc. for consulting.

Craig C Young, MD Professor, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Community and Family Medicine, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin

Craig C Young, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Ajay Kalra, MD Consulting Surgeon, Surgical Specialists

Ajay Kalra, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Missouri State Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Donald Spadone, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Missouri Health Sciences Center

Donald Spadone, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Association for Academic Surgery, Association for Surgical Education, and Society of Critical Care Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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