Outcomes of surgical paraclavicular thoracic outlet decompression

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a constellation of signs and symptoms caused by compression of the neurovascular structures in the thoracic outlet. These structures include the brachial plexus, the subclavian vein, and the subclavian artery, resulting in neurogenic (NTOS), venous (VTOS), and arterial (ATOS) types of TOS, respectively. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of paraclavicular surgical decompression for TOS.

A prospective analysis of patients who underwent surgical decompression for TOS at a newly established center was performed. Diagnosis of TOS was based on clinical history, a physical examination, and additional diagnostic studies. The indication for surgery in patients diagnosed with NTOS was the presence of persistent symptoms after a trial of physical therapy. Primary outcomes were assessed according to Derkash's classification as excellent, good, fair, and poor. Secondary outcomes included mortality, complications, and duration of hospital stay.

Between August 2004 and June 2011, 40 paraclavicular decompression procedures were performed on 36 patients (16 men) with TOS. The mean age was 36.5 years (range: 15-68). Bilateral decompression was performed on 4 patients. The types were NTOS (n = 19; 48%), VTOS (n = 16; 40%), and ATOS (n = 5; 12%). In addition to pain, the most common presenting symptom was numbness in NTOS, swelling in VTOS, and coolness in ATOS. A history of trauma was present in 22.2%. Two patients suffered from recurrent symptoms after previous transaxillary first rib resection for VTOS at another institution. Diagnostic tests performed included nerve conduction studies (43%), venogram (40%), and arteriogram (20%). All patients underwent paraclavicular decompression, which included radical anterior and partial middle scalenectomy, brachial plexus neurolysis, and first rib resection. The first rib resection was partial, through a supraclavicular only approach in NTOS and ATOS patients (60%) or complete, through a supra- and infraclavicular approach for VTOS patients (40%). Functional outcomes were excellent, good, fair, and poor in 74.4%, 15.4%, 10.3%, and 0% of cases, respectively. One patient was lost to follow-up. Two patients with incomplete relief of symptoms after paraclavicular decompression for NTOS underwent pectoralis minor decompression. There were no deaths. Complications included pleural effusion requiring evacuation (n = 4), neuropraxia (n = 1), and lymph leak (n = 1) treated with tube thoracostomy. No patients experienced injury to the long thoracic or phrenic nerves. The mean duration of hospital stay was 4.4 days. The mean follow-up was 10.3 months.

In our experience, surgical paraclavicular decompression can provide safe and effective relief of NTOS, VTOS, and ATOS symptoms. Functional outcomes were excellent or good in the majority of patients, with minimal complications.