Endoscopic Release of the Brachial Plexus.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a disabling condition affecting upper limb function due to neurovascular compression.
• Current open surgical treatments for TOS involve extensive incisions.
• Previous endoscopic approaches have been limited to decompression of structures solely below the clavicle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel endoscopic technique for brachial plexus decompression.
• To address all potential entrapment sites of the brachial plexus from the neck to the arm.

Main Methods:

• Development and description of an endoscopic surgical approach.
• Detailed illustration of the technique for accessing and decompressing the brachial plexus at various anatomical locations.
• Focus on minimizing invasiveness compared to open TOS surgery.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of an endoscopic method for comprehensive brachial plexus decompression.
• The technique potentially allows for addressing TOS at all defined entrapment zones.
• Highlights the feasibility of a minimally invasive endoscopic solution for TOS.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic brachial plexus decompression is a viable alternative for TOS treatment.
• This technique offers a less invasive approach to managing neurovascular compression in the thoracic outlet and upper limb.
• Further studies are warranted to evaluate the long-term outcomes and efficacy of this endoscopic method.