Management of thoracic outlet syndrome

Twelve hundred patients with thoracic outlet syndrome have been managed between 1973 and 1978. Diagnosis was based on a careful history and detailed physical examination designed to establish the presence of brachial plexus irritation. The cervical spine was evaluated and nerve conduction studies were obtained. All patients were initially treated with a comprehensive physical therapy program. One hundred thirteen patients had transaxillary first rib resections. Eighty percent of surgical patients had complete relief of symptoms and 13 percent were improved. Seven percent were unimproved and none was made worse by operation. There were no operative deaths. Complications occurred in 3 percent, and there were no recurrences requiring operation. This management plan reduced the number of patients requiring operation to 9.4 percent while maintaining satisfactory surgical results.