Surgical decompression for thoracic outlet syndrome

Fifty consecutive surgical decompression operations for thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) were performed in 43 patients over a 7-year period. Of these, 54% presented with neurological symptoms alone; the others complained of symptoms of vascular or combined origin. Operations for decompression consisted of excisions of 14 cervical ribs, 22 first ribs, and 14 soft tissue or fibrous bands. In six limbs, cervical sympathectomy was also performed for patients who had secondary Raynaud's phenomenon. Surgery resulted in complete relief of symptoms in 37 limbs (74%) and an improvement was achieved in another 10 (20%). In three limbs (6%) surgery gave no benefit. There was no mortality. Thoracic outlet decompression via the supraclavicular approach gave good results in 94% of the patients.