Brachial Artery Entrapment in a Professional Athlete

Pathologic compression of the median nerve at the elbow by the bicipital aponeurosis, or lacertus fibrosus, in athletes has been described well; however arterial compression at this level has been rarely described. We describe the evaluation and surgical treatment of a case of distal brachial artery and proximal radial artery compression by the lacertus fibrosus in a professional baseball pitcher.

We received verbal consent from the patient involved to prepare a published report of this case.

A professional baseball pitcher presented with an acute brachial artery thrombus. The patient had been treated at multiple institutions for recurrent right upper extremity arterial occlusions and had undergone a right first rib resection for arterial thoracic outlet syndrome. The patient underwent thrombectomy of the brachial thrombus. Subsequent outpatient imaging included an unremarkable computed tomagraphy angiogram with provocative thoracic outlet syndrome maneuvers, an inconclusive dynamic magnetic resonance imaging scan, and a right upper extremity arterial duplex with an increase in radial artery velocities with the arm abducted to 90°. Right brachial and radial artery exploration and decompression was performed. Preprocedure angiography demonstrated disruption of flow distal to the brachial bifurcation with the shoulder abducted and externally rotated with elbow flexed in the "pitching" or cocking position. Following lacertus fibrosus decompression, repeat angiography demonstrated normal brachial artery blood flow in all arm positions.

The patient did well postoperatively without additional episodes of arterial occlusion after nearly 3 years of follow-up.